New Delhi: A day after Defense Minister Rajnath Singh warned of cross-border attacks if needed, the Indian government summoned a senior diplomat from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and sought an explanation on rising attacks on members of the Sikh community living in the neighboring country. . Country. According to sources, the government also asked the Pakistani authorities to honestly investigate the matter of attacks on the Sikh community and share the investigation report at the earliest.
Sources said that the Government of India has lodged a strong protest against the incidents happening against the Sikh community in Pakistan. It expressed its strong displeasure over such incidents and demanded that Pakistan should ensure the safety of its minorities, who live in constant fear of religious persecution.
This action from the Government of India comes after four incidents of attacks against the Sikh community in 2023 between April-June. A member of the Sikh community died after unidentified armed men opened fire on him on Saturday, reported Pakistan-based The News International.
Fourth member of Sikh community shot dead in Kakshal
The victim was identified as Manmohan Singh, who was killed by unidentified assailants in Kakshal area on Saturday. “Manmohan Singh, 34, was on his way home in an auto-rickshaw on Saturday evening when unidentified armed men opened fire on him near Guldara, Kakshal,” a spokesman for the capital city police said on Saturday night.
He was taken to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Senior police officers and investigation teams have reached the spot to collect CCTV footage and other evidence, the official said. Apart from this, a search operation was also launched in the surrounding area to nab the culprits, reports The News International.
Earlier on Friday, another Sikh man was shot and injured in Dagbari area of the provincial capital. The victim, identified as Tarlug Singh, son of Makhan Singh, was shot in the leg by unidentified armed men in Dagbari, reports The News International. He was taken to the hospital where his condition is out of danger.
In May, Sardar Singh was shot dead by assailants in the eastern city of Lahore. Singh, 63, suffered a fatal bullet injury to the head, the third attack on the Sikh community. According to Pakistan Today, police officer Asad Abbas said that the bodyguard was injured in the attack. Earlier in April, Dayal Singh was shot dead by gunmen in Peshawar.
As targeted killings against the Sikh community are on the rise in Pakistan, the minority community, and Sikhs in particular, are feeling insecure as the Pakistan government’s failure to protect minorities is encouraging criminals to act with impunity.
Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan
In a stern warning to Pakistan, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said India can strike across the border if needed, adding that the country is no longer the same and is getting stronger day by day. The Defense Minister said that when terrorists from across the border in Pakistan attacked Pulwama, Prime Minister Narendra Modi “did not take even 10 minutes” to take the decision to send troops to the other side to eliminate them. Addressing the National Security Conclave in Jammu, Singh said, “After the Uri and Pulwama attacks, it did not take even 10 minutes for the PM to take a decision and our jawans went across the border to eliminate terrorists. We have successfully sent a message.” The world knows that India is no longer what it used to be. If needed, India can attack across the border.
The defense minister also assured that once “peace” returns to Jammu and Kashmir, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will be removed from the union territory.
“We have controlled the problem of extremism in the Northeast and our government has been successful in controlling Left Wing Extremism as well. Today, AFSPA has been removed from most parts of the Northeast. I look forward to the day when permanent peace will be restored.” AFSPA will also be removed in Jammu and Kashmir.
(with agency inputs)