Protesters block national highway over killing of Hindu businessman in Ghotki

Sit-in called off after police claimed arresting ring leader and his accomplices accused of killing Satan Lal

KARACHI:

A large number of protesters on Tuesday blocked the National Highway to protest the killing of a Hindu businessman in Ghotki over a piece of land a day earlier.

Satan Lal, the businessman, was shot dead by influential elements allegedly belonging to the Dahar community, living two kilometres away from the Daharki town of Ghotki district.

"There was an inauguration of a cotton factory and flour mill on the land of Satan Lal where some people shot and killed him," Lal's friend Mukhi Anil Kumar, who present at the scene, told The Express Tribune over the phone.

"We initially thought that it was the aerial firing to welcome Saen Sadhram Saheb, spiritual leader of the community," he added.

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Following the sit-in, police arrested ring leader Bachal Dahar and his accomplices accused of killing Lal. The locals had earlier staged a protest in front of Daharki police station to press the law enforcement agency to apprehend the culprits.

Talking to media persons, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) police Sukkur said the culprits involved in the incident had been arrested and that protesters had now cleared the highway.

In the video that went viral a few months ago, Satan Lal had said: "They are threatening to kill me, smash my eyes and cut my hands and feet. They are asking me to leave Pakistan. I belong to this country and will prefer to die here but will not surrender."

"The roadside land belongs to me and why should I give up," he was further quoted as saying. Late Lal had requested the chief justice of Pakistan and other authorities to provide him justice, naming those who he had were threatening to kill him.

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According to local journalist Shabir Arbani, "A two-acre land trigged the dispute. Around eight years ago, some people had shot and injured Satan Lal who also came under attack a few months ago."

Meanwhile, talking to media persons, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Khehal Das Kohistani said that efforts were afoot to tarnish the image of co-existence in Sindh where Hindu and Muslims live peacefully for centuries."

He added that girls of the Hindu community were forcibly converted and people were being kidnapped and killed.

"The situation will spiral out of control if protection is not given to the minorities living in the province," Kohistani said and urged the chief minister, IG police and others to take notice of the situation and provide justice and protection to the aggrieved Hindu families facing threats.