Two days after the Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan's Punjab province was attacked by a Muslim mob, a 25-year-old Sikh youth was killed by 'unknown' gunmen in Peshawar. According to the SSP Operations Peshawar, the body identified as Ravinder Singh, was found under Chamkani police station area. The investigation is underway.
MEA issues statement
The statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs stated, "India strongly condemns targeted killing of minority Sikh community members in Peshawar (Pakistan) that follows recent despicable vandalism & desecration of Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan at Nankana Sahib & unresolved case of abduction, forced conversion and marriage of a Sikh girl."
"India calls upon the Government of Pakistan to stop prevaricating & take immediate action to apprehend & give exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of these heinous acts."
'Ravinder was in Peshawar to shop for his wedding'
A businessman in Malaysia, Ravinder was in Peshawar to shop for his wedding in February. Anguished by the murder of his brother, Harmeet Singh said that "without minorities, no country can flourish and progress. Pakistan is beautiful because of minorities but each year, we end up carrying the dead on our shoulders".
Pakistan, he said, gets massive funds from several countries to protect minorities. "But there is no protection. That's why I am here to carry my dead brother's body today. I won't rest until the Pakistani government books the murderers of my brother," he added.
Attack on Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan
Religious minorities especially Sikhs in Pakistan have already been complaining of insecurity and fear since the attack on the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru. A Muslim mob led by the family of a man who had abducted and forcibly converted a Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur, pelted stones at Nankana Sahib, trapping Sikh devotees inside the shrine.
While India strongly condemned the attack, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition led by the Congress protested outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
(With inputs from wires)
