Moment police are accused of ‘SPYING on Sikh community’ and ordered to ‘pack their bags and leave’ after they set up stall to recruit officers in temple
Video footage shows youth activists telling police officers to leave a Sikh temple
The protesters from Sikh Youth UK claim that West Midlands Police are ‘banned’
They accuse the force of spying on Sikhs and of colluding with the Indian govt.
LONDON – Police officers were kicked out of a Sikh temple by activists who accused them of ‘interfering in Indian matters’ and said that they were ‘officially banned’ from Gurdwaras in the West Midlands.
Video footage shows members of Sikh Youth UK arguing with West Midlands Police recruitment officers at the temple, which is believed to be the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Pleck, Walsall, reported Mailonline.
The temple’s committee allowed police to set up a stall during Diwali last week to try and recruit worshipers.
However, they were soon challenged by Deepa Singh and other activists who accused West Midlands Police of spying on Sikhs and ‘colluding with Indian authorities’.
The mobile phone footage was uploaded to YouTube by the activists and shows Sikh Youth UK members approaching the officers and demanding they leave – which they eventually do.
During the confrontation, a member of Sikh Youth UK, believed to be Deepa Singh, tells the officers: ‘Pack up your bags and go. West Midlands Police is banned from Sikh spaces.
‘You are interfering in Indian matters, you are spying on the Sikh community.
‘We are asking you nicely and humbly to pack your stuff up.’
Some of the officers seem confused by the encounter but they then pack up their stall and leave the temple.
There has been tension between Sikh groups and West Midlands Police since counter-terrorism raids in Birmingham, Leicester and Coventry in September.
Sikh claim that they are being targeted by the force and Indian intelligence following the arrest of Jagtar Singh Johal last November.
The British man has reportedly been tortured by Indian authorities during his time in an Indian prison over the past year.
A spokesman for Sikh Youth UK said: ‘The video features Sikh Youth UK’s Deepa Singh, along with several other members, reinforcing the ban on West Midlands Police from official duty in Gurdwaras.
‘This information was used to conduct a series of raids on five Sikhs which did not lead to any arrests, but was only good for destabilising movements of Sikh activism.’
After a short and tense encounter, the police recruitment officers could be seen packing up their things and leaving +3
After a short and tense encounter, the police recruitment officers could be seen packing up their things and leaving
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: ‘Last week West Midlands Police attended a recruitment event at a Gurdwara in Walsall.
‘During this event one member of the public had a heated discussion with an officer.
‘Following this, it was decided the best course of action was for police to leave the event.
‘West Midlands Police has excellent relationships with its communities, this includes the Sikh community and officers continue to be welcomed into Gurdwaras and other religious buildings.’
Some of the officers seemed confused by the encounter with the activists claiming that West Midlands Police are banned from all temples in the region +3
Some of the officers seemed confused by the encounter with the activists claiming that West Midlands Police are banned from all temples in the region
Last month, the police force rejected claims that a series of raids in Coventry, Leicester and Birmingham were linked to Jagtar Singh Johal’s case in India.
A West Midlands Police spokesman explained: ‘Detectives searched a number of properties on Tuesday, September 18 as part of a West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (WMCTU) investigation based on intelligence gathered over a period of time.
‘The warrants were scrutinised and issued by the courts.
‘The searches were in connection with allegations of terrorist offences in the UK relating to activity in India, and also fraud offences.
‘The investigation is led by WMCTU and is not directed by the UK or Indian Government.
‘The search warrants were not related to the detention of Jagtar Singh Johal, nor any protest activity in respect of his detention.’
Courtesy MAILONLINE
