WSO Condemns Police Brutality Against Sikh Protestors

SIkhs attacked by Police 4OTTAWA, Canada—The World Sikh Organization of Canada condemns the brutal actions of the Punjab Police in attacking Sikhs protesting the desecration of the Sikh scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib at village Bargari in District Faridkot, Punjab.  Two protestors were killed and many others were severely injured. 

Unidentified miscreants stole a volume of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from a gurdwara at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, Faridkot on June 1.  Those responsible then issued a written challenge to the Sikh community to retrieve the stolen volume of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in September and on Monday, approximately 150 torn pages (ang) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were found scattered around village Bargari.

Today, Sikhs across Punjab conducted peaceful protests and marches calling for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the sacrilege.  At several places, the Punjab Police brutally attacked the protestors, resulting in the death of two Sikhs and injuring of over 80 others.  The Punjab Police fired shots into the crowds and also used tear gas and water cannons. 

Hundreds of Sikh activists and leaders have also been taken into custody across Punjab.

WSO President Dr. Amritpal Singh Shergill said, “we condemn the brutality of the Punjab Police against Sikh protestors today.  Over the past several years, a pattern has emerged where Sikh protests are treated in a much more violent and vicious way than protests by any other group or community.  Unarmed Sikh protestors have been repeatedly attacked and killed.  There was no justification for the deadly force used by the Punjab Police.  The desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is deeply painful for the Sikh community across the world and rather than trying to crush peaceful protests, the Punjab Police would be better served to find those responsible for this crime.”

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of Canadian Sikhs as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

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