Hindraf Supporters Shave Their Heads In Protest

A group of ethnic Indians shaved their heads on Thursday as over 100 protesters gathered near the Malaysian capital demanding the release of five of their leaders.

The leaders were detained under a controversial security law for raising their voice against alleged marginalisation of the community.

The protesters gathered at the Batu Caves Hindu temple compound and offered prayers for the early release of the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) leaders.

The leaders had been held at a detention camp in Kamunting, about 200 km from here, under the Internal Security Act, which allows authorities to hold people without trial for a minimum period of two years.

At least 16 Indians shaved their heads on the banks of a nearby river and walked to the temple, carrying posters of Mahatma Gandhi.

The act of shaving their head was a protest against the ISA detention and also as a prayer for their early release, activists gathered there said.

The fresh protests came an ethnic Indian minister, who had vociferously condemned the protests called by Hindraf, admitted that the recent street demonstrations had prompted the community to raise the unresolved issues faced by it and had affected the loyalty of Indians towards the government to a certain degree.

Malaysia Indian Congress president Samy Vellu said there were Indians who began questioning why the issues raised by the community had not been resolved by the government.
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