Gunmen Shot Dead Two Sikhs in Peshawar

Gunmen have shot two Sikh businessmen dead in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital Peshawar. The incident unfolded on Sunday, May 15. This comes as a latest episode in a series of targeted attacks on minority communities.

The deceased have been identified as 42-year-old Kanwaljeet Singh and 38-year-old Ranjeet Singh. Police details that the assailants were riding a motorbike and they opened fire at the victims in Bata Tal bazaar of Sarband, area of Peshawar. The victims died on the spot, as the bike-borne assailants fled from the scene.

Kanwaljeet and Ranjeet were associated with spice business and ran shops in the Bata Tal bazaar in Sarband. A case has been registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department. “The incident appears to be a terrorist attack. The CCTV footage will be acquired and the suspects will be arrested soon,” Aqiq Hussain Saddar Superintendent of Police told national television channel.

As soon as the news of this heinous incident spread agitated Sikh protestors staged a protest on the Peshawar-Islamabad road in front of Qila Bala Hissar and expressed their deep anguish and grief over the killings. They held placards against the brutal killings and raising slogans – “Stop target killings”, “We want justice.”

Pakistani Premier, Mian Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the incident. “Strongly condemn the killing of our Sikh citizens in Peshawar, KP. Pakistan belongs to all its people. Have ordered a high level inquiry to ascertain facts. The killers will be arrested & meted out exemplary punishment. My most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families,” he tweeted.

The Premier had ordered a high level inquiry into this case while directed the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan to ensure prompt action in the matter and to arrest and punish the culprits. The PM further directed the CM to take effective steps in order to provide safety to the religious communities nestled in the province.