Demonstration held over 'conversion' of Sikh girl in J&K

Activists of various political outfits today held a demonstration here protesting against the alleged kidnapping and conversion of a Sikh girl to Islam in Srinagar. The activists of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), BJP, National Sikh Youth Front, Shiv Sena, Dogra Liberation Front and RSS demonstrated in front of Press Club here, official sources said.

Alleging that the Sikh girl was kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam, the protesters raised slogans against the government and police, and demanded that she should be returned to her parents. The 20-year-old Sikh girl, a physiotherapist, allegedly married a Muslim youth who is a driver in Srinagar, on October 9, and reportedly changed her religion.

President of SAD-Badal S Mohinder Singh denied the reports that the girl had eloped with the Muslim youth. He claimed that the girl had been threatened that if she gave a statement against the kidnapper her parents would be killed.

Demanding that the victim along with her parents be shifted to Jammu under security, Singh said she should be provided a chance to record her statement before a court in Jammu to find out the truth.