01:20UK: Arrests made as Sikh protesters clash with police outside Indian Embassy
Police made several arrests after minor clashes broke out during a Sikh protest in front of the Indian Embassy in London, Thursday. Under the banner of 'Sikh Lives Matter,' the protesters were rallying against police brutality against Sikhs in the Indian region of Punjab. At least one police officer was injured during the clashes.
Protesters blocked Aldwych and the Strand, bringing the area around the embassy to a standstill. A large police presence was deployed at the protest, including several mounted officers.
Sikhs began protesting in Punjab earlier in October after a copy of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, a holy book, was found desecrated in the village of Bargari. Last week Indian police fired at protesters, killing two and leaving several injured. British Sikhs are angry at what they perceive to be a media blackout regarding the deaths and protests in Punjab.
Giving reasons for the protest, the Sikh Press Association released a statement online. "Recent deaths in Punjab have again brought to light the plight of ethnic minorities in India. Sikhs have continually found themselves victims of the most severe kind of police brutality, leading to the death of unarmed protesters and even bystanders during gatherings," the association stated.
01:20Police made several arrests after minor clashes broke out during a Sikh protest in front of the Indian Embassy in London, Thursday. Under the banner of 'Sikh Lives Matter,' the protesters were rallying against police brutality against Sikhs in the Indian region of Punjab. At least one police officer was injured during the clashes.
Protesters blocked Aldwych and the Strand, bringing the area around the embassy to a standstill. A large police presence was deployed at the protest, including several mounted officers.
Sikhs began protesting in Punjab earlier in October after a copy of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, a holy book, was found desecrated in the village of Bargari. Last week Indian police fired at protesters, killing two and leaving several injured. British Sikhs are angry at what they perceive to be a media blackout regarding the deaths and protests in Punjab.
Giving reasons for the protest, the Sikh Press Association released a statement online. "Recent deaths in Punjab have again brought to light the plight of ethnic minorities in India. Sikhs have continually found themselves victims of the most severe kind of police brutality, leading to the death of unarmed protesters and even bystanders during gatherings," the association stated.