Sikh youth alleges forced hair cut, police denies claim

LUDHIANA/NEW DELHI: A Delhi-based Sikh youth on Saturday alleged his head and beard were forcibly shaved by some persons in the national capital, a claim denied by the Delhi Police.

Twentyfour-year-old Harpreet Singh alias Sonu alleged in front of mediapersons in Ludhiana that his hair were cut by some persons who barged into his Tilak Nagar residence in West Delhi on Friday evening.

He said despite his identifying the persons, the Delhi Police had not registered a case.

Singh, who runs a training centre in Delhi, however, said police had recorded his statement.

When contacted, the Delhi Police denied that any complaint of forcible hair cut of a Sikh youth had been received by them.

Instead, they had received a complaint that two persons had deprived the youth of Rs 2,500, DCP (West) Robin Hibu said.

One person had been arrested in this connection, he said.

The youth, who rushed to Ludhiana this morning, met a number of SGPC members at a Gurdwara in the town.

Several SAD leaders, including Simaranjit Singh Mann, also held a meeting with the youth in connection with his claim.

SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar urged locals to maintain calm as tension ran high in the town.

He said he would take up the matter with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit.