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A large number of Sikhs have migrated from Orakzai after being threatened by Hakimullah Mehsud led militants. —AP/File Photo
Take an oath with this picture to finish the enemies of Panth. Enough is Enough. Where is the Swords of the Gurus ? We wear the Kadas. Not the bangles.
Beheaded body of Sikh local found in Orakzai in Pakistan
Sun, 21 Feb, 2010 | Rabi-ul-Awwal 6, 1431
KHYBER AGENCY: The beheaded body of a Sikh resident of Khyber was found in Orakzai Agency on Sunday.
Three Sikh residents of the area were kidnapped by militants from Tirah Valley, in the tribal area of Khyber Agency, locals told DawnNews.
A letter, found with the body, warned his relatives and other Sikh locals against disclosing the case to the media. It said the minority faced threats of suicide attacks if the details of the beheading and kidnapping were revealed to the media or security forces.
The deceased Jaspal Singh was kidnapped by the suspected militants along with two others and left beheaded in Orakzai.
Two other companions of Jaspal Sing, Gorwandar Singh and Srujeet Singh are still being ( pic. 1 above ^ Mugals & Talibans are same^) held captive by the militants.
The body of Jaspal Singh was brought to Peshawar where his last rituals will be held at Mohallah Jogan Shah in Dabgari area.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and consequent murder, sources say the Orakzai based militants are believed to be involved in the incident.
Militants in Orakzai and Tirah Valley have been charging the non-Muslim residents Jazai or Islamic Tax on the pretext of providing security to them and their business in the area.
A large number of Sikhs have migrated from Orakzai after being threatened by Hakimullah Mehsud led militants. —DawnNews ( pic. 2 right > Taliban Muslims want heads of Sikhs and Hindus >>)
Pakistani Taliban behead 2 Sikhs
There was confusion about the total number of Sikhs who were kidnapped for ransom from the Bara area of Khyber Agency by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. A source said four Sikhs were abducted while another report said the total number of kidnapped persons was six.
( <<pic. 3 left < Oyee Sacchhe Bande ! Hindus and Sikhs in India and International community !! Do something for Sikhs & Hindus thrown in Islamic fire in Pakistan )
The Sikhs were kidnapped 34 days ago and the Taliban had demanded Rs 30 million as ransom for their release. Two of the kidnapped Sikhs were beheaded after the expiry of the deadline for the payment of the ransom, sources said.
Gurvinder Singh and Gurjit Singh are still in the custody of the militants, sources said.
The kidnapping occurred in an area where there the government has virtually no control and the militants are in a dominant position, sources said.
A sizeable number of Sikhs lived in the tribal belt, particularly Aurakzai Agency, till the Taliban imposed ‘jiziya’ or religious tax on them last year. Most members of the community then fled to cities across Pakistan.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Taliban kill 2 Sikhs, send heads to Pak gurdwara
PESHAWAR/NEW DELHI: The Taliban has reportedly beheaded two Sikhs in Pakistan’s lawless tribal region bordering Afghanistan and sent the heads to a gurdwara.Jaspal Singh and Mahan Singh, both businessmen, were kidnapped from Tira Valley, in Khyber agency, and Darra Adamkheil, in Orakzai agency, on January 19 and held for ransom. Sources in the area told TOI on Sunday that they were killed because they were paying `protection’ money to a rival faction.
However, according to security sources in New Delhi, Jaspal and Mahan were reportedly told to convert to Islam or face death. When they refused, their heads were chopped off and sent to the Bhai Joga Singh gurdwara in Peshawar.
The Indian government has taken serious note of this and is in touch with the high commission in Islamabad. “This incident is shocking. We are looking into it,” a source said.
The miniscule Sikh community in NWFP and Afghanistan has been under pressure from the Taliban to embrace Islam, official sources said. The Taliban, during their reign in Afghanistan, had imposed jiziya — a religious tax — on all minorities, mostly Hindus and Sikhs. They were made to wear a piece of yellow cloth on their breast pocket to identify themselves.
Sikh killings may turn public mood against talks
Seema Guha / DNA ||Monday, February 22, 2010 0:17 IST
New Delhi: The shocking news of beheading of two Sikhs in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan — just four days ahead of a crucial meeting of the India-Pakistan foreign secretary meet — is likely to create much public animosity and make prime minister Manmohan Singh’s hopes of engagement more difficult.
Though details of these murders are awaited, public mood in India is likely to be negative. Officials of the ministry of external affairs have said they need to get the full picture from the high commission in Islamabad.
The Sikh families live in constant danger in the remote areas of the NWFP — a Taliban stronghold. They have been harassed and a special religious tax levied on them. Many families have already left for other cities in Pakistan. The latest killings are likely to come up for discussion when the parliament assembles for the budget session on Monday.
The government of Pakistan cannot be blamed for this. It’s a handiwork of those opposed to India-Pakistan dialogue. It’s probably aimed at spoiling the atmosphere. The Taliban is known for its opposition to India.
“The killings could be just its way of sending a message to New Delhi that you may talk to the civilian government of Pakistan but cannot protect Sikh people living in that country,” a senior official said.
