Members of the tiny Sikh population in Afghanistan have said that Taliban fighters entered Gurudwara Karte Parwan and vandalised it.

The Sikh shrine, located in northwestern Kabul, is where hundreds of Hindus and Sikhs had taken refuge after Taliban marched into Kabul on 15 August. At that time, however, Taliban militants had visited the gurudwara and assured the Hindu and Sikh leaders that they would be safe.

Puneet Singh Chandhok, who is head of a group called Indian World Forum, tweeted, “Alarming reports from #Kabul. Unidentified armed forces entered Gurdwara Karte Parwan.They not only abused the sanctity of the holy place but also vandalised it.Requesting intervention of @narendramodi ji @MEAIndia for safety & well being of our #Hindu #Sikh brethren living there.”

Hindustan Times reported that a member of the Afghan Sikh minority, Sardar Govind Singh, has posted a video on social media, saying that armed men entered the gurudwara and damaged most of the CCTVs and locks. He said they were suspected Taliban members.

There has been no official word from the Indian side on the incident, the HT report said.

Earlier, the Sikh holy flag called Nishan Sahib was removed by the Taliban from the roof of a gurudwara in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktia province. The gurudwara is said to have been visited by Guru Nanak and holds a special significance for Sikhs.