Sikh businessman attacked in Rishikesh, SGPC demands strict action

Chandigarh: A Sikh businessman was beaten up, and his showroom was damaged by a mob in Uttarakhand’s Rishikesh. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the culprits.

SGPC Chief Secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan stated that a delegation from the committee would soon visit the affected Sikh community and meet Uttarakhand government officials.

Mannan has also written to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the state police, urging them to take strict action.

Referring to a viral video of the incident, Mannan said the Sikh businessman was assaulted, his showroom vandalized with stone pelting, and his turban forcibly removed.

He called for the inclusion of sections related to hurting religious sentiments in the case against the accused.

The SGPC has spoken with the victim and expressed solidarity with him. Mannan claimed that, according to the businessman, a local Congress councillor was behind the incident and had been harassing Sikh traders.

In his letter, Mannan urged the Uttarakhand government to conduct an impartial probe, arrest the culprits, and ensure the safety of minority Sikhs across the country.