London, June 1 (ANI): A British Pakistani has been arrested in connection with an assault on a Sikh woman in the British city of Luton on Monday.
Anan Majid Basharat, 19, appeared at a Luton Magistrates Court after being charged with assault. He pleaded not guilty to the offence and was granted bail on the condition that he stays away from Luton, sticking to a curfew between 7pm and 7am and is not to contact anyone connected with the case.
Following the incident, hundreds of members of the Sikh community, many of them from outside of Luton, protested outside the Luton Police station, and blocked the roads.
Police had reportedly met members of the community at the gurdwara earlier in the day to address their concerns.
"Obviously we have a duty to facilitate lawful, peaceful protest and if people have concerns it is right they are aired responsibly. Our priority first and foremost, however, is with the victim in this matter and her family," the Daily Times quoted Bedfordshire Police Chief Superintendent Mike Colbourne, as saying.
Pakistan's High Commissioner to UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan expressed utter dismay over the Luton incident and urged for calm and utmost restraint among the members of the two communities. (ANI)
