RAWALPINDI: The Indian Army has shelled a village lying well within Pakistan’s territory. Twenty persons have been killed and 15 wounded.

Village Awan lies one mile inside Pakistan’s border in Gujrat district. The shelling took place yesterday [Aug 23]. Indian guns, it is learnt, continued pumping shells on the peaceful villagers for half an hour.

The United Nations Observers have been informed by Pakistan about the provocative action of the Indian Army. The UN Observers have visited the place and saw for themselves results of the Indian wanton attack on the Pakistani village. A strong protest is being lodged with the Indian Government. — Correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by our staff correspondent from Lahore,] the Sikhs will never submit to any domination by the Hindu majority and will rest only when they are allowed to have a self-determined political status which could ensure for them freedom of Panth.

This categorical statement was made by the Akali leader, Master Tara Singh, during his interview with the “Daily Parbhat”, Jalandhar, a copy of which was personally handed over by him to newsmen on his arrival from India at the Wagah border.

He said the Punjabi Suba for which the Sikhs were striving would not be an ineffective administrative unit like other provinces.

It would satisfy the Sikhs only if it gave them effective control and an autonomous status within the Indian Union. Master Tara Singh said the relations between Hindus and Sikhs in India were most bitter and reminded him of the days when Arya Samaj and Sangh Sabha had clashed with each other.

He was bitterly critical of the Indian Constitution which, he said, did not have the consent of the Sikhs as it had failed to fulfil their aspirations.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2015

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