Pakistan Taliban Beheads Three Sikhs in FATA Area: Report

Pakistan Taliban has beheaded three Sikh men in the FATA area of Pakistan and their heads sent to a gurudwara in Peshawar, reported Indian Express.

Report said that one of the men was identified as Jaspal Singh as per the information available with India and he and his friends were residents of Badi near Peshawar, said report.

Report also said citing a PTI report from Pakistan that there was confusion about the exact numbers and that two men were beheaded and others were being held hostage. Report also said that body of Jashpal Singh was found in Khyber while that of Mahal Singh in Orakzai Agency, while Gurvinder Singh and Gurjit Singh were among those being held captive.

The men, who had gone to the FATA area for some work, were held by Taliban groups who apparently asked them to convert to Islam, said report.

Report said citing sources that the information available so far suggests that the men resisted the order and were then beheaded.

Later, their heads were sent to Bhai Joga Singh Gurudwara in Peshawar. The incident has shocked the small Sikh community in Peshawar, said report.

This attack, report said citing sources, comes in the backdrop of repeated threats to the Sikh community there to convert if they wanted to stay on.

India has in the past taken up the issue of security of Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan. While the Pakistan government has been committed to providing security to minority groups, this incident has certainly made matters far more dangerous and sensitive.

The Haqqani group and factions of the Quetta Shura along with the Pakistan Taliban are active in these parts of Pakistan which border Afghanistan.

Last year, Taliban militants took over shops and homes of 35 Sikh families and arrested community leaders in Ferozkhel, Orakzai Agency.