India condemns beheading of Sikhs,urges strict action

“We condemn this barbaric act of Taliban who have taken into custody three of the Indian nationals. The message that I have received which needs to be updated is that one has been done away with and other two are kept under captivation,” he said.

Though the minister described these Sikhs as “Indian nationals”,the reports from Pakistan have been maintaining that they were locals living in that area.

An estimated 10,000 Sikhs lived in the NWFP and 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.

“Violent methods will take us back to the medieval times,” Krishna said.

According to the reports from Pakistan,some more members of the minority community are still in the custody of the Taliban.

Minister of State for External affairs Parneet Kaur speaking to media at her residence also said “Its deeply Unfortunate,we condemn the killing outrightly.”

“Last time Sikhs were threatened to pay Jazia and Pakistan had said it is its internal matter,I appeal to Pakistan to take strict action” said Parneet Kaur. Thousands of Sikh Members have been living in NWFP for over 200 years. Many of them living in Khyber are reportedly paying Jazia tax an Islamic tax collected by non Muslims.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC),the highest decision-making body of Sikhs has severely condemned the beheading and strong protests and demonstrations are planned outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

Congress condemned as “extremely unfortunate” the killing of Sikhs in Pakistan and said it expects the government to take up the matter with the neighbouring country.

“We condemn the killings. It is extremely unfortunate…We expect the government to talk to Pakistan to protect the lives of the minorities there,” party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters outside Parliament House.

He said the incident was a clear message to those who draw a distinction between good Taliban and bad Taliban and added that this “medieval thought (of beheading) needs to be crushed with resolute firmness”.