Sikhs continue protests against atrocities on their community by Taliban

Amritsar, May 7 (ANI): Sikhs continued protests across Punjab against the atrocities being committed on their brethren by the Taliban in Pakistan.

Scores of activists took to the streets in Amritsar to express their anguish against the treatment meted out to Sikhs in Pakistan's North West Front Province (NWFP).

The protestors, who torched an effigy of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, appealed to both the Indian and the Pakistan Governments to help in controlling the atrocities on Sikhs.

"Our brothers have staged this protest against Taliban and asked the Pakistan Government to stop the atrocities on Sikhs and also their losses should be compensated. They also appealed to the Indian Government to intervene and help avert the atrocities committed on them and their relatives in Swat valley and Pakistan," said Swaroop Chand, a protestor.

The Taliban demolished at least 11 houses belonging to the Sikh community on Thursday in the Orakzai Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan after they refused to pay "Jazia".

Jazia was a tax imposed on non- Muslims for their protection during theMughal period but continues even today in some parts. (ANI)