Commission holds cleric responsible for attack on Hindu shrine

A One-Man Commission on Minority Rights on Monday submitted its report in the Supreme Court on the burning of a Hindu shrine/temple in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district and held a local cleric responsible for inciting people to violence.

Last week, a mob, reportedly instigated by a local cleric, vandalised a small Hindu temple and the adjacent shrine of saint Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj in the Terri area of Karak. The temple, though no longer functional, was considered a revered pilgrimage site by the Hindu community.

The community leaders maintained that the residents in the Terri area were not happy with the ongoing renovation and extension of the temple which is why they vandalised it before setting it on fire.

On Thursday, police arrested Maulvi Sharif along with dozens of his supporters nominated in the FIR registered on the complaint of Rehmatullah, the SHO Terri police station. The arrests were made in Urmar village of Karak.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed took notice of the incident and fixed the matter for hearing on January 5, 2021.

According to a report submitted by the one-man commission in the apex court, commission’s head Shoaib Suddle, minority leader Ramesh Kumar and K-P chief secretary visited the site of the incident.  K-P advocate general, IG and home secretary also accompanied them.

The commission in its recommendations called for a comprehensive probe into the incident and collecting all testimonies and evidences related to the happening.

The commission maintained that main suspect of the incident Maulvi Sharif incited the people to violence.

It also suggested carrying out investigation on the performance of police under the supervision of K-P IG and observed that elements involved in such incidents should be given exemplary punishment.

The commission in its meeting with K-P chief minister Mahmood Khan was assured of the early restoration of the temple.