Priya Aditi
A rights groups in Pak has expressed alarm over reports that 30 members of the minority Hindus community, including women and children, are being hold captive by organised criminal gangs.The incident has been reported in Sindh’s Kashmore and Ghotki districts.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan tweeted, “HRCP is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community, including women and children, have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs.”
The group also highlighted the threats to attack Hindu temples with advanced weapons and demanded that the home office investigate the situation immediately.
“Additionally, we have received alarming reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community’s places of worship with weapons of the highest calibre. The Sindh Department of Home Affairs must promptly investigate this matter and take measures to protect all vulnerable citizens in these areas,” the report added.
The group expressed concern over reports that a Hindu temple in the southern Pakistani province of Sindh was attacked with rocket launchers by a crew of bandits on Sunday, marking the second instance of vandalism against a place of worship belonging to a minority community in less than two days.
In the Kashmore region of the Sindh province, the assailants assaulted a small temple constructed by the local Hindu community and adjacent homes belonging to members of the minority community.
The assault occurred after the Mari Mata Temple in Karachi’s Soldier Bazar was demolished by bulldozers Friday night in the presence of a large police contingent.
In Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh province, a temple believed to be approximately 150 years old was demolished because it was deemed to be an old and hazardous structure.
On Sunday, the attackers fired randomly at the temple, prompting a police unit commanded by Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo to respond.
During the attack, they launched “rocket launchers” at the closed place of worship, a police official said, adding that the temple opens annually for religious services conducted by the Bagri community.
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“The assault occurred early on Sunday morning. They discharged randomly and fled when a police contingent arrived on the scene. Samoo stated, “We are conducting a search operation in the area.”
