Threat to Sikhs unites Hurriyat, politicos

The anonymous threat to Sikhs to join protests or leave Kashmir has united separatists and mainstream politicians.

“Unidentified people have sent notices to Sikhs. I have told them Islam doesn’t allow it. Islam preaches respect for all religions and protection of all faiths. These miscreants are people who are against our movement,” Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, said.

For the past few days, Sikhs living in different parts of the Valley have been receiving threat letters in gurdwaras and households, triggering panic among the community.  

“Some miscreants sent anonymous letters to our gurdwaras and homes, threatening that Sikhs join protests or leave Kashmir. We ignored it initially, but when letters were dropped in gurdwaras we started worrying. There are several agencies and elements active in Kashmir, anybody can be behind this act,” Jagmohan Singh Raina, president of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee, said.

A panicked state government said it was looking into the issue and trying to expose the miscreants. “We may have differences with separatists but on this issue, we are one. Muslims of Kashmir are living in harmony with Sikhs. However, there may be miscreants and mischief-mongers. We are looking into this issue with all seriousness and will identify and expose these elements,” Ali Mohammad Sagar, law and parliamentary affairs minister, said.

The threat comes in less than a month after miscreants chopped off hair of a Sikh youth at Malangpora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Harmeet Singh aka Mithun Singh, an employee of Border Roads Organisation, was stopped by a group of miscreants near Malangpora when he was on his way to market on July 28. He was allegedly asked to raise pro-freedom slogans and later beaten up in full public view. His hair was also allegedly chopped off, triggering anger among Sikhs in both the Valley and Jammu, police said.

There are 70,000 Sikhs living in 121 villages of the Valley. Sikhs and Muslims have traditionally lived in harmony in Kashmir. Despite the massacre of 34 Sikhs in Chittisinghpora village of Anantnag district on March 20, 2000, the community did not leave the Valley like Kashmiri pandits.

“We are framing mohalla [ward] committees with Muslim brothers. We are also calling a conference of our community to dispel the threat,” a Sikh leader said.