POONCH, May 17– Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Friday visited Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir to offer condolences and financial assistance to the families of four Sikhs who were killed in cross-border shelling by Pakistan last week.
During his visit, Dhami attended the Antim Ardas (final prayer ceremony) for the deceased and handed over cheques of ₹5 lakh each to the bereaved families. He was accompanied by SGPC office bearers, including Rajinder Singh Mehta, Surjit Singh Bhittewad, Mahant Manjit Singh, and assistant secretary Harbhajan Singh Vakta.
“The pain and loss inflicted by war is endured by innocent civilians, not armies,” Dhami said, addressing the gathering. “Generations pay the price for the violence that takes only moments to unfold.”
He also urged the Union Government to adopt a more inclusive stance towards Sikhs residing in Jammu and Kashmir, specifically by recognizing them as a minority community in the region. “Our demand for minority status is not just symbolic—it is about securing the rights and representation of our people,” he added.
Appealing directly to the J&K chief minister, Dhami called for immediate relief measures, including government jobs for at least one member of each of the four affected families.
In a gesture of long-term support, Mahant Manjit Singh announced that he would personally take responsibility for the education of children from the grieving families.
“Education must not become another casualty of this tragedy,” he said.
The SGPC delegation’s visit comes amid heightened tensions along the Line of Control, where recent shelling has left several civilians dead and many others displaced.
