Blasphemy allegations: Ghotki on edge as mob demands ‘justice’

Police investigating Hindu man, said to be mentally ill

SUKKUR: `Tension prevailed in Ghotki district on Tuesday following an alleged act of blasphemy and subsequent protests demanding action against the accused near Daharki in the early hours of the day.

All business centres in the district were closed and a large number of people blocked the National Highway in Daharki, suspending traffic between Sindh and Punjab, as part of their demand to be allowed to 'deal' with the alleged blasphemer themselves.

According to locals, Amar Lal, a Hindu, entered a mosque located on Reharki road and allegedly torched copies of the Holy Quran. While exiting the mosque, some passersby spotted him and realising what he had done, caught hold of him and handed him over to the police after beating him blue.

The news of the alleged blasphemous act spread like wild fire and resultantly, all business centres of the area were closed. Sensing a backlash from the public, the Sukkur DIG ordered the police to provide foolproof security to Hindu worship places.

In the meantime, a large number of citizens gathered at the National Highway and staged a sit-in, demanding that the accused be handed over to them. Reports from Daharki said a few cameramen from the electronic media covering the protest were attacked by the demonstrators, who also damaged their equipment. After news was aired about the attack on media teams, a heavy contingent of police led by Sukkur SSP Amjad Shaikh rushed to the scene and fired teargas shells and resorted to aerial firing to disperse the mob, members of which too were firing in the air.

Later, talks were held between the protesters and SSP Shaikh, who sought three days to properly investigate the matter, after which the protesters dispersed.

Reports from Mirpur Mathelo said that the accused, Lal, was produced in the district and sessions court which, after hearing the case, remanded him into seven-day jail custody.

Talking to The Express Tribune, president of the Hindu Panchayat Sukkur Mukhi Eshwar Lal Makheja strongly condemned the alleged act of blasphemy. "If the man is really involved in the act, he should be awarded exemplary punishment," he said, adding that Muslims and Hindus respect each others' places of worship and such incidents should be dealt with extra care. However, Makheja said that according to his information, Lal is mentally ill. He appealed to the protesters to show restraint and let the police properly investigate the matter.

The pir of Bharchoondi, Sharif Mian Abdul Khaliq, told The Express Tribune on the phone that the accused was caught red-handed by villagers and confessed to his crime before the police. "Our demand is to register a case against him under the blasphemy law and punish him accordingly," he said, adding that he is against people taking to the streets and damaging Hindu places of worship and other properties. He said it is their duty to protect the rights of minorities and nobody should be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2016.