‘Attackers came from Kacha areas’

IGP says police posted for security of Ganish temple also assaulted

ISLAMABAD:

The inspector general of police (IGP) Punjab informed the Supreme Court on Friday that the people from the Kacha area, adjacent to Bhong in the Rahimyar Khan district attacked the Hindu temple, while various inquiries had been ordered to investigate the incident.

IGP Inaam Ghani submitted a report in the apex court, narrating the circumstances which led to the attack on the Ganesh temple in the district. He assured that investigation into the case was in progress and would be finalised on merit.

Narrating the circumstance that led to the assault on the Hindu temple, IGP Inaam Ghani stated that on July 25, Hafiz Muhammad Ibrahim, Mohtamim, Madrissa Darul-Aloom Arabia Taleemul-Quran, in Bhong Sharif reported to the local police that on July 24 at 10:00 am, he witnessed a boy urinating in the library of the Madrassa.

The Madrissa Mohtamim told the police he tried to catch that boy but he fled away. He further alleged that “the accused also pasted stool on the Almirah of the library”.

On the complaint, the report said, the first information report (FIR) was registered with the Bhong police station. According to the IGP report, the FIR, number 206/21 dated 25. 7.2021 was registered under section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The report added that the local police conducted their investigation. On July 26, the IGP said the complainant nominated Bhavish Gordan, son of Gordan Jee, of Mangiwal caste, resident of Mohallah Imam Para, Bhong, and aged about 8/10 years as accused through his supplementary statement.

The accused was arrested on July 26 and produced in the court of the area magistrate, who sent the accused to the judicial lockup, the report said, adding that the accused was released on post-arrest bail by the senior civil judge of Rahimyar Khan on July 28.

The IGP further said in his report that the matter was also discussed in the District Intelligence Committee, Rahimyar Khan, and necessary instructions were issued by the district police officer (DPO) of the Rahimyar Khan district.

On August 4, the report said, a post was shared by one Abdul Razzaq, son of Nooral Soomro, on the social media that “after today if any Hindu is found eating in the pots of Muslims, he will be responsible, especially in Bhong Sharif”.

“When the local police began probing the facts, some elements started agitating. People from Kacha Razi – adjacent Kacha area of the Rajanpur district – also gathered on the instigation of one Qari Usman of Kacha Razi,” the IGP told the court.

“The police responded to the situation and the protesters were engaged to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, a request was made to call rangers/ army to assist in controlling the ongoing law and order issue,” he added. “However, at around 4:00 pm, about 100 to 150 agitating people blocked Motorway M-5 in the area of Bhong police station and started raising slogans against Hindu community. More police contingent was sent to the spot with senior officers in command to address the situation.”

The report said that “duty was also placed at the temple” as a precautionary measure, while some of the protesters came to the police for dialogue to settle the issue. However, the IGP said, a group of charged protesters armed with weapons, construction guarders, sticks and bamboos assaulted the police staff deployed at the temple.

“Furthermore, they brutally vandalised “Ganish Mandar” situated in Qasba Bhong at about 05:00 pm. The perpetrators severely damaged the idols, walls, doors and electric fittings while desecrating the worship place. Police continued efforts to control the charged environment,” the IGP said.

The IGP said an FIR No 231/21, dated 04.08.2021 under sections 452/353/295/297/148/149 of the PPC, 16 MPO [Maintenance of Public Order] was registered by police as state complainant at Bhong police station. “Another FIR No 230/21 PS Bhong u/s 342, 148, 149 PPC & 16 MPO was registered by the Police as state complainant for road blockade.

A third FIR No. 232/21 PS Bhong u/s 295, 148, 149 PPC and 16 MPO was registered on the complaint of Zahid Husain … for desecrating alam (flag)”.

“The Kacha Area is geographically adjacent to Bhong. Mostly the people of the Kacha area assembled and assaulted the Mandar, the IGP said.

“The whole situation has been deescalated and one company of Rangers and proper strength of police force have been deployed in Bhong village as well as other vulnerable places in the district.”