Larkana riots: Normal services resume as investigations raise questions

Investigation committee formed as unconfirmed rumours all to go by.

SUKKUR: After being gripped by riots that put a dampener on Holi festivities, normal services have resumed in Larkana on Monday but the events leading up to the riots have yet to be confirmed.

Riots had erupted after the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran by a Hindu youth in Larkana on Saturday night, due to which a mob attacked and torched a Dharam Shala [religious sanctuary] and a temple at Royal Chowk, as well as causing damage to other Hindu properties in Larkana and some cities of Balochistan. However, all the main bazaars and business centres of Larkana remained open today.

On the other hand, police have sealed the house of the Hindu youth, who is being kept at an undisclosed location, while his wife and children have been shifted to his relatives in the outskirts of Larkana. Police and Rangers have been deployed at the Dharam Shala as well as at temples and other Hindu property in order to avert any untoward incident. Senior PPP minister Nisar Khuhro held a meeting with Larkana.

What actually happened?

While many rumours have been floating about all of them remain unconfirmed. The Hindu man in question resided on the first floor of a house, while the man who witnessed the event, Abdul Manan Shaikh, lives on its ground floor. However, that is one of the few confirmed facts regarding the incident so far.

One of the rumours said that the Hindu man - a drug addict - often used abusive language and Shaikh used to ask him to refrain from it but he paid no attention, which resulted in a few scuffles. Sources, quoting another rumour, said that Shaikh was working in his laundry, when three unidentified men came with a plastic bag filled with papers. The men claimed that the bag contained pages of the Holy Quran that were thrown down from the first floor of his house, where the Hindu youth used to live.

The men were trying to wash the pages when police rushed to the scene. Upon seeing the police, the three men fled, leaving behind the plastic bag. According to another rumour, the Hindu youth had advanced a loan of Rs500,000 to a Muslim who was refusing to pay back. After a heated argument over the repayment, the Muslim had torn the pages of the Quran in order to frame the Hindu.

To answer these questions, investigation and inquiry committees have been formed, said Larkana ASP Tauqeer Naeem, who is part of the investigation committee.

Political friction

According to sources, Hindu Panchayat Larkana president Advocate Kalpana Devi has not attended any committee meeting and the Hindu Panchayat is being represented by other office bearers. Sources said that, she belongs to the Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid and is the general secretary of its minority wing and therefore prefers to keep away from the provincial leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party who are now involved in the investigation.

Devi said that it makes no difference whether or not she attends the meetings. "I want to see peace flourish in Larkana," said Devi.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2014.