Qazi Shibli
Though, various international media organizations have reported the increasing attack on minorities throughout India, the escalation of attacks under the present Government against Muslims and Christians, Sikhs has multiplied.
In a similar incident, the family of a 27 year old Sikh boy has come out and said that Mohinderpal singh has been arrested without any provocation, merely for being a Sikh.
ALSO READ: ‘He Pulled My Hair, Abused My Mother’- Sikh Law Student Alleges Assault by UP Police
Mohinderpal Singh, A 27 year old Sikh boy, who is a resident of Kashmir has been arrested by the Delhi Police along with two more Sikh youth on June 15 .
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat his sister said that on the 15th of June, Mohinder left his home and called her saying, “I will return home after going to the gym, and then suddenly his phone got switched off.”
Sandeep says that her brother, Mohinder had been selflessly working for the people in the times of global pandemic. “He was a servant at the Local Gurduwara, and had been living in Delhi for the past fifteen years.”
Sikhs throughout, India especially in North India, in Punjab which in early 1980s witnessed a bloody Khalistani movement, feel their loyalty is always being questioned. A Sikh Activist speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that “There is a perception that the Khalistani movement is slowly gaining ground and might soon be revived, so the government looks at us with suspicion.”
A Resident of Baramulla in Kashmir, Sandeep Kaur said she looked for Mohinder everywhere, and it was only after hours that they came to know through the family of another youth who had been arrested with Mohinder.
Sandeep rushed to the Police station where she met Mohinder and the officials, who promised that they will release him soon. “The Officials told me that there were no charges against, he had been arrested merely for questioning.”
They kept me in a confusion, she said, “otherwise i would have spoken around to people, to officials or the press.
She said that the Delhi Police misinformed the family and kept lying that they would soon release Mohinder. “I went to meet him on Saturday morning, when he told me that he was fine, in the evening we came to know through a TV Channel he had been falsely dubbed as a Khalistani Militant (Supporter).”
Sandeep feels that her brother is being targeted for being a Sikh and his arrest is a part of larger conspiracy of targeting the Sikh youth in various parts of North India.
The Delhi Police has said that during the interrogation of the accused, he disclosed that he was in touch with “Khalistani terrorists” further saying that he was arrested with one firearm, two live rounds.
The Delhi Police has also claimed that they arrested one more youth Lovepreet and found incriminating ‘Anti National’ materials in his phone.
Sandeep feels that her brother’s get-up is different so that is a possibly why he was attacked. ” He is innocent and is being framed by the Delhi Police, we ask the global community to intervene and get Mohinder out of the illegal custody.”
He according to Sandeep has been charged under the Arms Act initially; and eventually post 3 day of custody, he was slammed with UAPA.
There is no evidence that Sandeep was associated with anyone or wanted to, his sister told The Kashmiriyat. “I don’t understand how in the world did the police associated him to Pakistan, He’s an innocent young man, who has been doing Tabla Seva at the local Gurudwara,” she said.
It is pertinent to mention here, that attacks against Sikhs have escalated. Sandeep says that two more Sikh youth have been arrested after her brothers arrest, however nothing has been reported in this regard.
Recently a sikh youth was thrashed by Police in Uttar Pradesh and later brought out of the car, he alleged that he was abused and his hair pulled out.