GHOTKI, Sindh – Police on Monday registered a case against a group of people who vandalized a Hindu temple in the city after an alleged case of blasphemy.
According to Samaa TV, the case was registered against 43 people for attacking the temple under sections 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class), 147 (rioting) and 149 (connivance) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
On Saturday, a student accused the principal, who is a Hindu, of blaspheming against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during a class lecture. The suspect and his family fled after the incident sparked protests in the city.
A case has also been registered against him under Section 295-C of the PPC.
After the incident, religious groups called for a shutter down strike in the wake of the incident. All business centres in Ghotki remained closed on Sunday. Authorities deployed large contingents of law enforcement agencies and paramilitary forces to control the situation.
Sukkur Additional Inspector General Jamil Ahmed said on Sunday the principal was in the “safe custody” of the police. He said a fair investigation would be ensured after confirmation of the facts and justice will prevail.
Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani said the FIR of the incident had been registered and the suspect was in police custody. He promised a transparent investigation into the incident.
Ghani said that if it was proven, it was still an act of an individual and the entire Hindu community could not be blamed for it.
