Hindu vet arrested over alleged blasphemy as violence rocks Mirpurkhas

Ramesh Lal taken into custody for allegedly desecrating verses of the Holy Quran

KARACHI: A veterinary doctor belonging to the Hindu community has been detained for allegedly desecrating holy text in Phuladyyon town of Mirpurkhas district on Tuesday.

A man, identified as Ishaq, alleged in a complaint that Ramesh Lal committed blasphemy by desecrating a book containing verses from the Holy Quran.

The alleged desecration sparked off a violent protest in the town followed by a shutter down strike.

Protesters set ablaze a doctor’s clinic, a medical store, and two shops belonging to the members of the Hindu community. They also blocked roads by burning tyres.

There were reports that the protesters also looted some shops.
They demanded that the police arrest the alleged blasphemer. With the situation spiraling out of control, local authorities called in the paramilitary Rangers to deal with the mob.

“I don’t know why we [Hindu community] are being punished for a crime which might not have even happened,” Mohan Lal, a member of the minority group, said.

“It’s an unfortunate incident. We have taken the doctor into custody and are investigating incident,” SSP Mirpurkhas Javed Baloch told The Express Tribune.

He said a case under Section 295-A has been registered and police have established a picket in the town to deal with any untoward incident.

“The situation has now normalised,” he said, adding that the police would take action against those who have ransacked properties of the Hindu community. “We have detained some suspects on charges of damaging properties,” he added.

The Mirpurkhas deputy commissioner said the government would compensate those whose properties were damaged during the violence.