turned violent when the police used force in order to remove the protesters and used horses, batons and specialist officials to push them out of the main street.
The protesting Sikhs resisted and as a result the clash continued for nearly an hour. Three protesters were arrested and at least two policemen were also injured. Sikhs organisations said that at least five protesters received serious injuries. The police officials were seen freely using force to pressurise the demonstrators and pictures circulated on social media showed several youth being pinned down on the ground. One police officer was pictured being led to a police van with blood pouring down his face.
The Sikh Federation said that the Punjab Police had used lethal force against the peaceful Sikh protesters while they were undertaking their morning prayers in Kotkapura. “In appalling and horrific scenes, hundreds of Sikhs exercising their democratic right to peacefully assemble and protest were beaten, dragged away and arrested. The police initially used batons to attack thousands of the peaceful protesters and then resorted to use of water cannons to disperse the protesters. Later they opened fire with live ammunition killing two unarmed Sikh protesters and injuring dozens of others. The protests followed the desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh Holy scriptures or the living Guru of the Sikhs. We demand the arrest of those responsible for the desecration. Many have recalled the events of 1984 when there was a complete disregard for Sikh lives and widespread police and army brutality.”
Its spokesperson Jas Singh told this correspondent that India was committing crimes against Sikhs and other minorities while the world was looking the other way. He called on the western governments to pay attention to the plights of minorities in India and hold the Indian government accountable.
The United Sikhs Association said that the police overreacted and should not have beaten up the peaceful protesters. They said that India is a racist country which is actively working on a policy to criminalise its minority communities. It said that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom had criticised India for its treatment of religious minorities and had added it to a “watch list,” annoying the South Asian country.
The police said in a statement that it was aware of a planned demonstration at the Indian High Commission. “Whilst it was initially a peaceful protest the demonstrators blocked the roadway at the Aldwych and caused significant disruption to the central London road network. Police liaison officers attempted to negotiate with those present in order to facilitate peaceful protest and minimise the disruption to the public. Additional officers, including those from the Mounted Branch, were mobilised to the area and a small group of protesters became violent towards the police.”