City shuts down: Two Hindus injured in temple property dispute
Punjabis went back to the construction and when the Hindus went to talk to them, they opened fire.
UMERKOT:
Two Hindus were injured on Friday when men opened fire on them in a fight over the construction of a shop on the land of Aakharo Temple.
Rano, 23, and Mool Chan, 30, were taken to Hyderabad in serious condition.
The temple is located in the middle of the city and is believed a hundred years old. It is spread over three acres and has 50 shops around its boundary wall. One shop tenant is Zulfiqar Punjabi and his brother Hafeez Punjabi. According to a Hindu notable, Seth Jhaman, the Punjabis started construction without permission and wanted to expand. “They started construction work last week but when we complained the police stopped them,” he said.
Notables from both sides mediated and contacted MNA Nawab Yousaf Talpur to help. But then the Punjabis went back to the construction and when the Hindus went to talk to them, they opened fire.
The entire city shut down in protest and in fear of riots. The police said they had arrested a few men from the Punjabis’ side and Umerkot SP Munir Khuhro said a picket was set up by the temple.
Former residents, Talpur, MNA Mahesh Malani and Kishan Chand Parwani have contacted the Hindus and assured help. Jhaman said that some armed men were still inside the temple’s property.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2012.
Two Hindus were injured on Friday when men opened fire on them in a fight over the construction of a shop on the land of Aakharo Temple.
Rano, 23, and Mool Chan, 30, were taken to Hyderabad in serious condition.
The temple is located in the middle of the city and is believed a hundred years old. It is spread over three acres and has 50 shops around its boundary wall. One shop tenant is Zulfiqar Punjabi and his brother Hafeez Punjabi. According to a Hindu notable, Seth Jhaman, the Punjabis started construction without permission and wanted to expand. “They started construction work last week but when we complained the police stopped them,” he said.
Notables from both sides mediated and contacted MNA Nawab Yousaf Talpur to help. But then the Punjabis went back to the construction and when the Hindus went to talk to them, they opened fire.
The entire city shut down in protest and in fear of riots. The police said they had arrested a few men from the Punjabis’ side and Umerkot SP Munir Khuhro said a picket was set up by the temple.
Former residents, Talpur, MNA Mahesh Malani and Kishan Chand Parwani have contacted the Hindus and assured help. Jhaman said that some armed men were still inside the temple’s property.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2012.