Sikh advocate brutally beaten, forced to convert to Islam in Pakistan - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

While India and Pakistan governments are finding out ways to resume dialogue, an incident of a Sikh being brutally beaten up and asked to convert to Islam has come to light. Anup Singh, a resident of Pindi Ghaip, nearly 100 kilometres from Islamabad, was allegedly attacked by a group of about eight to ten people on November 21. Sources in Pakistan say that Anup Singh was brutally beaten up and left seriously injured. Anup Singh, an advocate by profession, practices law in civil courts. He took a case of a Mrs. Safina Kanwal w\o Muhammad Amin, for a separation and Haq Maher (compensation) from her husband. Gurmeet Singh from Pakistan has alleged that Muhammad Amin, kidnapped Sardar Anup Singh from his office and took him to his place. He was stripped and his photographs were taken with Amin's wife to use it as evidence. He was compelled to sign on blank paper and brutally beaten. His hair and beard were cut with the help of Muhammad Amin's brothers and friends. Anup Singh was told that if he did not convert to Islam, he would not be allowed to live in the area and would be killed by them, said Gurmeet Singh. His family members brought him in an unconscious state and admitted him to Holy Family hospital, Rawalpindi," said Gurmeet Singh and added that Anup Singh has suffered big cuts on his head and face while his legs and arms have been fractured. Gurmeet has also complained that even the hospital was not giving the medical report of Anup's case after six days. According to the latest information, Ravinder Singh, the brother of Anup Singh along with other family members have taken shelter at Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hana Abdal, Pakistan Sikh organizations have taken a serious note of the incident. Avtar Singh Makkar, president of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) has condemned the incident and said to give a memorandum to the Pakistan High Commission soon. He said that he would also seek an appointment with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and urged to take up the matter of security of the Sikh community living in Pakistan. Meanwhile, talking to ANI from USA, Dr. Pritpal Singh, convener American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC), condemned the attack on Anup Singh. Dr. Singh said their organization would take up the matter with the State department of United States and would ask them to make safety and security of the minorities living in Pakistan. He said AGPC would also strongly put up the case before the Government of Pakistan. Delhi Gurdwara Sikh Management Committee Chief Parmjit Singh Sarna, reacting to the incident, said that Pakistan Government should inquire and take action. He has demanded exemplary punishment for the persons responsible for the attack on Anup Singh. Sarna said that he would submit a memorandum to Pakistan High Commission. There are about 10,000 Sikhs living in Pakistan.