Beheaded body of a Sikh found in Pakistan
By IANSSunday, February 21, 2010
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI - One of the three Sikhs abducted by Pakistani Taliban was found beheaded in Pakistan’s restive tribal region, a media report said.
The victim was identified as Jaspal Singh, who was kidnapped along with two other Sikh residents by Taliban militants from Tirah valley in Khyber Agency near the provincial capital Peshawar, the DownNews reported.
A letter was also found with the body warning the relatives of the deceased and other Sikh locals against disclosing the case to the media.
The letter threatened the community with suicide attacks if the details of the beheading and kidnapping were revealed to the media or security forces.
Jaspal’s two other companions, Gorwandar Singh and Srujeet Singh, are still being held captive by the militants, the report said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and murder.
Meanwhile, India’s opposition Bhartiya Janata Party has condemned the killing and asked the government to mount “diplomatic pressure” on Pakistan to ensure release of the abducted Sikh residents in the country.
Minorities are facing threats in Pakistan and terrorism presents the real picture of that country, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said in New Delhi.
A large number of Pakistani Sikhs has fled from Orakzai and Tirah valley where the non-Muslims have been charged “Jazai” or Islamic Tax by militants on the pretext of providing security in the area.
