In a harrowing incident of mob justice, hundreds of people accused a ‘deranged’ man of sacrilege, mercilessly beat him and burnt him alive in southern Punjab, police said on Wednesday.
The incident took place in the Chanighot area of Bahawalpur Tuesday evening. Residents saw a man allegedly throwing pages from the Holy Quran onto the street. Local police took him into custody and put him in the lockup.
The news spread like a forest fire in the neighbourhood – and soon a frenzied mob gathered outside the Chanighot police station baying for blood.
Police couldn’t stand up to the furious and violent crowd who got hold of the alleged blasphemer, described by one police official as deranged, and brutally tortured him.
Some officers fired tear gas canisters to disperse the mob – but the emotionally charged people refused to hand over the alleged blasphemer and instead turned against the police officers, according to Ghulam Mohiuddin Gujjar, the station house officer (SHO) of Chanighot police station.
Nine police officers, including SHO Gujjar and DSP Rana Naveed Mumtaz, were injured while trying – though unsuccessfully – to rescue the man.
The mob burnt down several police vehicles, including DSP Mumtaz’s four-wheeler, before getting hold of the man, who has not been identified.
Once the unidentified man was in the mob’s custody, he was dragged to the Chanighot Chakar (roundabout), where he had allegedly desecrated the Holy Quran, doused him in petrol and set him on fire.
SHO Gujjar said they have registered two FIRs against 1,500-2,000 people.
DPO Bahawalpur Ahmad Ishaque Jehangir told The Express Tribune that police reinforcement has been sent to the area to bring the situation under control. He added that they were investigating the incident.
Jehangir said that an additional police force had been deployed in Chanighot police station to avoid any untoward incident. The man’s body was shifted to a local hospital for autopsy.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2012.
COMMENTS (12)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Identity of national mindset
Islam is a religion of peace.
@salman: You need to educate yourself with the teachings of Islam. The are set rules according to shariah if someone needs punishment. Blood of an insane man is by no means a righteous act.
@salman: Please note blasphamy charges in Pakistan are always FALSE. The uneducted mass are killers and should be punished to the full extent of the law. Say your 5 prayes a day and get blessings from Allah. This is once again a henious crime and totally un Islamic
Tear gas only? What are the police's guns for? Sadly, that is the only way these mobs will learn. Kill a couple of them and next time they won't go on rampages.
Ashamed to call myself Pakistani and a Muslim. No investigation no facts. Mob violence by illiterates.
National insanity
great job mob. I'm sure Allah will reward you for this. you'll all go to heaven. Our nation should be proud today.
When lesser beings assume the role of the Almighty it becomes evident that they have gone asrtray.
Ahh! What else can one expect from people with barbaric an animal instincts. Religion has poisoned human brains in Pakistan
Mob or Wild Animals?