India, July 2 -- A 125-year-old historic gurdwara was demolished in Pakistan's Punjab province by a local businessman, sparking protests by the minority Sikh community in the area. The act drew criticism from India, which strongly condemned it as "highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism" against the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib - a revered Sikh shrine.

Following reports of the vandalism, a delegation from the the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) met officials from the ministry of external affairs. They submitted a memorandum, requesting the government to ensure no further demolition or damage is caused to the gurdwara, news agency PTI reported.

The Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib is a decades-old histo...