Sikhs protest harassment of youth in Kashmir

JAMMU - Members of the Sikh community staged demonstrations across the Jammu region Thursday to protest the harassment of a Sikh youth in the Kashmir Valley who allegedly had his hair cut forcibly.

Sikh leaders led protests in Digiana, Miran Sahib, R.S. Pura and other parts of Jammu, raising slogans against the state government for its failure to “protect the community” in the Valley following the incident in Malangpora area of Pulwama town.

The protesters also burnt tyres and staged sit-ins on the roads.

Community leaders have warned they would intensify their agitation if the government failed to take action against the elements responsible for hurting their religious sentiments.

Kuldeep Singh, one of the leaders, told media persons that the community was “dismayed” by the attitude of the government toward the community.

He alleged that the miscreants have got the encouragement “to do acts which hurt the religious sentiments” of the community because of absence of law and order in the Valley.

“This is quite unfortunate that our community members are being made the targets,” he said.