Hindu Extremists Raise anti-Sikh Slogans, Target Sikh Shopkeepers in Sirhind

FATEHGARH SAHIB, Punjab—Situation has turned tense in Sirhind town after the murder of Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti’s (ABHSS) Punjab president Manish Sood.  Sood was shot by his own bodyguard this past Monday.

On Tuesday, activists of various Hindu extremist outfits who had given a shutdown call, gathered in the town and started to force Sikh shopkeepers to shut their shops. They also shouted slogans against Khalistan and alleged that Sikhs are behind the murder.

After finding that Hindu extremists were raising anti-Sikh slogans and threatening Sikh shopkeepers, Sikh activists also gathered in the town and started to raise pro-Khalistan slogans. Representatives of Sikh bodies defended Sikh shopkeepers. They warned Hindu extremists to shun their communal practice. Entire Fatehgarh Sahib area turned into fortress.

Hindu outfits that gave shutdown call included BJP, ABHSS, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena (Balthakrey and Hindustan). The police had made concrete security arrangements during the shutdown call.

Nishant Sharma, president of the North India Student wing of the ABHSS, claimed, “We have been receiving threat calls from Khalistan Liberation Force and have submitted a recording of such calls to the police.”  Another Hindu leader claimed that Sikh organization took revenge of the [foiled] attack on Bhai Hawara.

On the other hand, Jalandhar Range IG Lok Nath Angra has denied hands of any Sikh organization behind the murder. He said, “Sood and his guard Somnath had consumed liquor last night and the murder followed an altercation between the two. Their mobile phones have been seized and we are trying to trace their call details.”

In November 2011, Manish Sood, along with few aides tried to manhandle Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, in the district court premises in Chandigarh.