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A statue of a Sikh soldier which was unveiled less than a week ago has been vandalised.

It is believed graffiti was daubed across the Lions of the Great War bronze statue in the High Street , on Thursday night.

The words ‘Sepoys no more’ were added while a thick black line was drawn through the words 'Great War'.

Sepoy was a term used in the British Indian Army for a soldier. The graffiti has since been removed.

The statue, standing outside the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick, was commissioned by them to acknowledge soldiers of all faiths from the Indian subcontinent who fought for Britain in both world wars.

There was widespread outrage over the vandalism.

West Midlands Police reportedly said the monument was sprayed in black and gold paint and officers were treating it as criminal damage

Below: This is the statue which was vandalised

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Kris Forgham posted on Facebook: “Words fail me without our heroes they would be living in a world of heaven knows what, they should be named shamed and dealt with.”

Zeeshan Mohammed wrote: “This statue is represent all south Asians who fought in the war be they Muslim Sikh Hindu Christian.

It’s a disgusting act of vandalism and the culprit needs to be caught named and shamed.”

(Image: Sandwell MBC)

Coun Carol Goult said: “This has now been cleaned up and police informed, I think we all need to keep an eye on this.”

It was unveiled in front of a large crowd on Sunday.

Jatinder Singh, President of the Gurdwara, said at the ceremony: “ We are so proud to be unveiling this memorial to honour the sacrifice of all those brave men who travelled thousands of miles to fight for a country that wasn’t their own.

"These men volunteered to serve and fought to defend the freedoms we enjoy today. The memorial will ensure that this part is never forgotten.”

“The monument makes us feel proud to be Sikh and proud to be British.”

Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Edgbaston, said: “Despite being small in number in British India, Sikhs played an important part in the War, making up more than a fifth of the British Indian Army,”