[Reader-list] Separatist Goons Beat up Sikh Youth in the Kashmir valley

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

 *Hair cut fuels Sikh protest*
 *
HT Correspondents<http://www.hindustantimes.com/Search/search.aspx?q=HT%20Correspondents&op=Story>,
Hindustan Times

*Members of the Sikh community blocked roads and Sikh
organisations protested on Thursday as a Sikh youth was beaten up and his
hair chopped off on Wednesday. Serving a two-day ultimatum to the state
government for taking action against the culprits, the organisations
demanded special probe into the incident.

Some unidentified persons allegedly beat up and chopped off the hair of a
Sikh youth, Mithunpal Singh, a resident of Tral in Pulwama district, about
160 km from here.

Deputy inspector General of Police in south Kashmir, Shafaqat Watali, said,
“Some youth asked him to raise pro-freedom slogans. He obliged. But when
they asked him to recite* kalma* (Islamic prayer), he resisted. They beat
him and some of his hair was chopped off.”

“He does not know who the attackers were. We have registered a case for
hurting religious sentiments, attempt to murder and dacoity and arrested two
suspects,” he said.

Sikh youths blocked the Jammu-Pathankote National Highway in protest. The
police resorted to mild cane-charge.

The situation was brought under control when Muslims, the police and
administration urged people to disperse.

State president of All India Shiromani Akali Dal Joginder Singh Shaan said,
“There is every apprehension that some agency wants to create a rift between
us and the Muslims.”

Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called the incident “highly
un-civilsed and unacceptable”. A government spokesman said CM Omar Abdullah
also condemned the incident. Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee
(SGPC), chief Avtar Singh Makkar has sought time from Abdullah to discuss
the issue.


-- 
Aditya Raj Kaul

India Editor
The Indian, Australia

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