FIR lodged in Hindu temple attack

Unidentified persons booked for attacking Mari Matta Mandir in Korangi

KARACHI:

Police have registered a case against unidentified miscreants who attacked the Mari Matta Mandir located in Korangi J Area late on Wednesday night.

Police have also been deployed at the main gate of the temple while district administration and law enforcement agencies have assured the Hindu community for complete security.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sanjeev Kumar, a resident said that the unidentified men on motorcycle entered the premises and vandalised the dieties and warned that they will visit it.

He said that about six to eight individuals on motorcycles came into the area and attacked the temple.

"We don't know who has attacked and why," he said, adding that the police were approached to lodge the case.

"Five to six unknown suspects entered the temple and escaped after vandalising it," Korangi SHO Farooq Sanjrani confirmed.

He added that the case was being registered against the unknown suspects who attacked the temple.

"Police is fully cooperating with us," Sanjeev confirmed, saying there were 15 families living near the temple and fear griped them all after the attack.

"We have been living in this area since 1961," he said.

"No one has ever passed any comment or threatened us," he added.

Taking notice of the incident Karachi Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui said that: "action has been taken, FIR has been registered and the culprits will be brought to justice. The damage caused to the Mandir will also be repaired.”

Temples belonging to the minority Hindu population in Pakistan are often the target of mob violence.

In October 2021, a historical temple located at the bank of the Indus River in Kotri was allegedly desecrated by unidentified people.

Law enforcement agencies came to the scene soon after the news of the incident went viral on social media.

An FIR of the incident was lodged at the Kotri police station against the unknown miscreants.

Local residents told The Express Tribune that an unidentified person entered the temple premises and vandalised the statues of their deities after midnight.