Effigies of Pakistan PM Sharif, Hafiz Saeed burnt across India on Dessera

After the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), people in several parts of the country have decided to burn an effigy of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif along with the heads of several militant organisations this evening to mark the conclusion of the 10-day festival of 'Dussehra'.

Dussehra is celebrated across the country as a victory of good over evil.

Deep anti-Pakistan sentiments prevail in the country after a series of militant attacks in Kashmir since last month.

Along with Sharif, effigies of Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, an Islamist charity linked to outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) have also been set up at several places.

"Apart from effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran, Meghnad, the effigy of Nawaz Sharif, who is promoter of terrorism, has also been made. The 125 feet effigies will be burnt together," said Ramlila Committee organiser Rajesh Gehlot in New Delhi.

Dussehra is regarded as the day when Hindu Lord Ram defeated Ravana, demon-king of Lanka (Sri Lanka) and rescued his abducted wife, Sita.

In Ludhiana also, huge effigies of Sharif and Sayeed have been put up to be torched later in the evening.

"The effigies of both (Nawaz Sharif and Hafiz Saeed), who represent evil forces, will be burnt. Therefore, we have made effigies of Hafiz Saeed and Nawaz Sharif," said a local, Parminder Kaka.

Tension between India and Pakistan escalated sharply after militants attacked Uri on of September 18 that killed 19 soldiers.

On September 29, India announced launch of surgical strikes against suspected militants trying to infiltrate from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.