New Delhi: India has asked Pakistan to sincerely investigate the killings of two men belonging to the Sikh community in Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa adding that strict action should be taken against those found responsible for the “deplorable” incident, reported news agency PTI.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India had registered its strong protest with Pakistan on the continued “targeting” of members of the minority community in that country.
India expects that the Pakistan government would look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities, Bagchi said.
The two businessmen from the Sikh community — Saljeet Singh, 42 and Ranjeet Singh, 38 — were shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Sunday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. According to the police, both the traders died on the spot after being attacked by the assailants.
“We have seen the reports on the brutal killing of two Sikh traders by unidentified armed men in Peshawar. Sadly, this is not the first such case or a rare occurrence,” Bagchi said. He further said that grave concerns have been raised by various quarters of the Indian civil society and the Sikh community at this shocking and deplorable incident.
“We have registered our strong protest with the Government of Pakistan on continued targeting of members of the minority community in Pakistan,” Bagchi said.
“We call upon the authorities concerned to sincerely investigate the matter and take strict action against those responsible for this deplorable incident,” he further said.
“We expect that the Government of Pakistan, in the discharge of its responsibilities, will look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities,” the spokesperson said.