Current Events
We Feel Completely Safe: Sikh-Kashmiris
by ISHFAQ MIR
The communal harmony and brotherhood for which Kashmir is known for, was once again witnessed when Muslims chased away some miscreants who pelted stones on two Sikh houses in the Jawahar Nagar area in uptown Srinagar (Kashmir) on Saturday evening (August 21, 2010). The residents of Rainawari have also offered protection and security to the Sikhs.
According to locals, some unidentified persons pelted stones on two
houses near DAV School, Jawahar Nagar, late in the evening. The owners of
the houses called their Muslim neighbors, who came out with sticks and
chased away the miscreants.
"The miscreants wanted to add to the tension in the wake of anonymous
threatening letters. They fled away on seeing people in large numbers
with sticks," said Muhammad Lateef Dar, a local.
In order to create a sense of security among the Sikhs, some of the
Muslim neighbors slept on the balconies of the houses which were
targeted by the miscreants.
In the morning, the mohalla committee members gathered and strongly
condemned the incident. "The Committee constituted a team to find the
elements involved in the incident. The committee will also monitor the
safety of the Sikh community in the area during the night hours," the
locals said.
Meanwhile, the Sikh population of the area has hailed the efforts of the
Muslim community. "We feel completely safe and protected as long as our
Muslim brothers are with us. We know some miscreants want to create
confusion and disturb the communal harmony," said Harvinder Singh, a
local.
However, police denied any such incident and termed it as "planned effort" to create panic in the area.
"There was no protest or stone pelting in the area from which it can be
gauged that minority community was targeted. A boy had thrown a stone
unintentionally which broke the glass pane and there was nothing else,"
said SHO Rajbagh Suhail Ahmad.
He said he personally went to the spot and offered security to the
Sikhs living there but they refused it. "I even told them if they wanted
to lodge an FIR, police will register it, but they refused. Some
miscreants want to give an unhealthy touch to it, which won't be allowed
at any cost," he added.
Meanwhile, people in Rainawari visited the houses of Sikhs and offered
security to them. People told them not to feel scared in the prevailing
situation. "Some miscreants want to create communal divide between the
two communities and this won't be allowed at any cost," the Sikhs were
told and assured of full protection and security.
The Sikh community members reposed their faith in their Muslim neighbours.
August 24, 2010
