AMRITSAR: Singapore prison services department has assured to look into the issue of cutting of head and facial hairs of Sikh jail inmates in the prisons there.
Former prison volunteer for Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, Madan Mohan Singh, told TOI on Thursday that the quality service manager of Singapore prison services, Kok Weng Chew, has promised him on January 29 that he would look into the matter.
Singh had "exposed" the cutting of head and facial hairs of Sikh jail inmates by labeling them as "non-practicing" and "non-traditional" Sikhs.
There had been three known cases of Sikh inmates, whose head and facial hairs were cut, after labeling them as "non-practicing" Sikhs in prisons.
"On behalf of the Sikh community, I have demanded withdrawal of the practice of labeling Sikh inmates as non-practicing and also stop the cutting of long hair and beard of Sikh inmates," he said.
Following a complaint lodged with Akal Takht by Sikhs, the jathedar of Akal Takht had also issued directions to initiate an inquiry, which is yet to be completed. He informed that despite prison directives on regular hair grooming, the jail authorities in Singapore cut head and facial hairs of Sikh jail inmates.
"The jail directives say that Sikh inmates will be allowed to keep their hair as at the point of admission, that is, if they enter prison with a full head of hair, the prison will allow them to keep their hair. If their hair is already shorn at the time of admission, they will not be allowed to keep hair during their sentence," he said. Contrary to directives, he said Sikh jail inmates were made to believe and accept by senior jail officers that if they had been taking drugs, smoking and drinking alcohol, it constitute them to be classified as "non-practicing Sikh" and as per prison standards on regular hair grooming, their hair would be cut.
Singapore to look into 'hair cutting issue' of Sikh prisoners
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Singapore to look into 'hair cutting issue' of Sikh prisoners
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Singapore to look into 'hair cutting issue' of Sikh prisoners
