Sikh protesters hurl shoe at Shiromani Akali Dal leader Tota Singh in New York

Tota Singh, Minister for NRI Affairs in the Punjab government and his delegation came under attack in New York as hundreds of Sikhs protesting his visit allegedly threw stones and hurled a shoe at the leaders, following which the police took two youths into custody.

Singh and other Shiromani Akali Dal leaders were scheduled to address a meeting at Richmond Hill in the Queens borough on Saturday.

However, hundreds of Sikhs protesting the visit and chanting slogans converged at the venue and allegedly surrounded the area, according to information provided by the rights group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

The standoff between the Sikhs and Mr. Singh’s delegation continued for more than three hours and a heavy contingent of New York Police was summoned at the scene.

Police said two persons were arrested for obstructing governmental administration, unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct.

SFJ said the protesters pelted stones and hurled a shoe at Mr. Singh and other Akali leaders as they were whisked away from the venue amidst heavy police protection.

“The North American Sikh groups are opposing SAD (Badal) for their failure to convict Indian police officers, who were involved in extra judicial killings of thousands of innocent Sikhs during counter insurgency operations in early 1990s,” SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said in a statement PTI