Threat of attacks on temples echoes in Sindh Assembly

The issue of threat of attacks on Hindu temples in Sindh dominated the proceedings of Sindh Assembly on Monday as Minority Affairs Minister Giyanchand Essrani informed the house that the security for Hindu temples had been beefed up across the province after recent rocket launcher attacks on temple in Kashmore-Kandhkot district in a reaction to Pakistani woman Seema Haider's marriage to a Hindu man living in India.

Replying to a point of order raised by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Mangla Sharma, the minority affairs minister said that a 30-year-old mother of four children, Seema Haider, went to India illegally via Nepal to live with a 22-year old Indian man named Sachin she had befriended him through PUBG, an online gaming platform.

"In a reaction to the Baloch girl's marriage to a Hindu boy, some criminal elements including dacoits having hideouts in the riverine forests have threatened Hindu community of dire consequences," he said adding that the dacoits have also threatened of more attack on Hindu temples. "We, the Hindu community have nothing to do with Seema's free will marriage with Indian body," Essrani said.

Regarding the role of police and law enforcement agencies for the protection of Hindu community, the minister said. "I am coordinating with the inspector general of police on daily basis and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah is also monitoring the matter," he said.

Earlier, Mangla Sharma while moving the point of order told the House that the entire Hindu community of the country was afraid for their security after a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) commonly known as rocket launcher was fired on the temple in Ghuospur area in Kashmore. She said that fortunately, the rocket did not explode and no casualty was recorded.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2023.