Two Sikhs rescued from Taliban's clutches in Pakistan

A Muhammad

Peshawar, Mar 1 (PTI) Two Sikhs, abducted for ransom
by Taliban, were rescued on Monday by security forces in the
restive Khyber tribal region in northwest Pakistan, a week
after militants beheaded a third member of the community in
captivity.

The operation was conducted in a remote area along the
boundary between Khyber and Aurakzai tribal regions on a
tip-off, a military spokesman said.
The two abducted Sikhs -– Surjeet Singh and Gurvinder
Singh – are safe, the Inter-Services Public Relations
spokesman said.
"Many" militants were also killed during the operation
and further details about the action would be provided soon,
the spokesman said, adding that Tehreek-e-Taliban was
apparently involved in the abduction.
Surjeet and Gurvinder were abducted along with another
Sikh named Jaspal Singh over a month ago in the Khyber Agency.
The beheaded body of Jaspal Singh was found on February 21.
Sources said the body of another Sikh, Mahal Singh,
was found on the same day in Aurakzai Agency.
However, Pakistani officials have maintained that
only Jaspal Singh's body had been found by authorities.
A sizeable number of Sikhs lived in the tribal belt
but have been forced to flee after the Taliban imposed
'jaziya' or religious tax on them last year.
Robin Singh, a Hindu man, was also recently abducted
from Peshawar. Locals have said that Robin's abductors have
demanded Rs 10 million for his release. PTI MUH
DEP