The National Commission for Minorities has asked Punjab Chief Secretary for a report on the communal clash in Patiala that took place on Friday when a group that calls itself Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) and pro-Khalistani activists clashed, throwing stones at each other and brandishing swords.
The Commission’s joint secretary A. Dhanalakshmi has written a letter to Punjab Chief Secretary Anirudh Tiwari asking for a detailed report about the incident within seven days.
Pakistan attack
The Commission earlier had taken cognisance of media reports about the attack on Sikhs including the family of Mastan Singh, former President of Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee at Shri Nankana Sahib and asked the MEA to take up the matter with Pakistan.
The alleged incident took place on April 19 when a group of men reportedly trespassed onto the fields of Mr. Mastan Singh and his family. They reportedly destroyed their crops and tried to forcibly occupy the land. When Mr. Singh and his family protested they were beaten up.
The National Commission of Minorities, in a statement here said, they have requested the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with their counterpart in Pakistan to ensure that this kind of incident is not repeated. “It is alleged that local land mafia are behind the incident who are trying to encroach a prime piece of land. Since a prominent Sikh family is subjected to brutality, other Sikh members in Pakistan are feeling insecure,” Commission Chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura said.
The Commission wants appropriate steps to be taken to prevent and combat hate, and secure the safety of Sikhs in Pakistan.
