Hundreds of Sikhs demonstrated outside the Indian Embassy in London this afternoon as part of the global Sikh Lives Matter movement and Metropolitan Police officers are being accused of using “force” to remove protesters.
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According to organisers of the protest, police were told on Monday, 19 October, that 500 protesters were expected on the day and that a number of coaches had been organised to transport people from outside London.
The sit in protest was planned in part to recreate the horrific scenes from a week ago when the Punjab Police used lethal force against thousands of peaceful Sikh protesters undertaking their morning prayers and exercising their democratic right to peacefully assemble and protest the desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our Holy Scriptures and living Guru.
The protestors are also demanding justice for the state violence against peaceful protesting Sikhs in India.
Police have so far arrested six persons, mostly working in Sikh shrines, in connection with the sacrilege incidents.
“During an altercation, one officer suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital”. 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. Other protesters have claimed that the unrest began when a police officer broke a Sikh flag in half, which they believed was “hugely disrespectful and created to get a reaction”.
Sikhs world wide have been protesting today at on going aggression and murders of Sikhs by Police and Government. Police said they had shot into the air, but two protesters were killed and dozens more were wounded – exacerbating the situation. They demanded the arrest of those responsible for the desecration.
It said: “Recent deaths in Punjab have again brought to light the plight of ethnic minorities in India”.
“For a few unusual reason the police were ill-prepared”, said Gurjeet Singh, National Press Secretary of the Sikh Federation UK. Police liaison officers attempted to negotiate with those present in order to facilitate peaceful protest and minimise the disruption to the public.
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“Additional officers, including those from the Mounted Branch, were mobilised to the area and a small group of protesters became violent towards police”, the statement added.
