Jammu observes bandh over beheading of Sikhs

The call for the bandh was given by Jammu and Kashmir Sikh United Front (JKSUF) and supported by BJP, VHP, JKNPP, Jammu Bar Association, Chamber of Commerce and Industry besides social organisations.

Sikh protestors, led by Convenor of JKSUF Sudershan Singh Wazir, blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway for over four hours in Gangyal and Jammu areas, burnt tyres at Digiana, Camp and other places on highway and resorted to anti-Taliban slogans and demonstrations in the city.

Shops and business establishments remained closed in maximum places of the city and private vehicles were partially off the roads.

As per reports, the bandh was also observed in Poonch, Reasi and R S Pura districts. There was no reports of any untoward incident during the bandh, a police spokesman said.

"We condemned the attack on Sikhs in Pakistan. The beheading incidents are brutal. Sikhs are unsafe in the area and Pakistan Government has failed to provide them security," Wazir told reporters here.

Two Sikhs who were kidnapped for ransom were found beheaded by the Pakistani Taliban in that country's restive tribal belts of Khyber Agency and Aurakzai Agency on Sunday. Some more members of the minority community are still in the custody of the rebels.

Opposition PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti today condemned the beheading incident and asked the Pakistan government to provide security to the minority Sikhs in that country.
"It is a heinous crime and all of us are condemning this incident," she told reporters in the Assembly.

Member of the Legislative Council, Bashir Ahmed Magrey too condemned the incident, saying Pakistan should provide security to the minority.