Ethnic Indians shave heads in Malaysia to protest detention of leaders

A group of minority ethnic Indians shaved their heads Thursday to protest the imprisonment of five community leaders who campaigned for equal rights in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

About 100 Indians gathered at the Batu Caves temple compound outside Kuala Lumpur to pray for the release of the leaders who were arrested last week under the Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without trial.

Sixteen of them had their heads shaved on the banks of a nearby river and walked to the temple, carrying posters of Mohandas K. Gandhi, India's independence leader who led millions in nonviolent protests, said S. Jayathas, one of the protesters.

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