Rajpura Sikhs Remember Terror and Fear in Baluchistan

Rajpura, India (CHAKRA) – After the recent beheading of two Sikhs in Peshawar, Pakistan, Lakshman Singh recalls his horrid experiences in Pakistan and how they left him with no choice but to leave to India with nothing at all.

He left Pakistan, from the province of Baluchistan almost 15 years ago with memories of a traumatic experience caused by religious extremists, which still haunt him today. 

Singh is now settled in Rajpura in India since 1996, when he first arrived after brutalities against non-Muslims in his former home of Pakistan.  He said that the killing of Sikhs and non-Muslims is a common practice in Pakistan, and are finally now coming out in the open for everyone to see due to present-day media coverage, which has improved in terms of transparency, a little compared to years ago. 

He said he had to live in Pakistan for 40 years with no religious freedom, having to get permission for anything related to the practicing of another religion other than Islam.  Lakshman said, “We cannot practice our religion there and have to get permission to hold functions like weddings.”  He also explained that gurdwaras are only permitted to be opened on special days and such rules are reinforced or ignored by the government.