In the town of Bhong, Rahim Yar Khan, a mob rushed the Hindu shrine (Ganesh Mandir), where they burned parts of the temple vandalizing it, and destroyed idols using sticks, stones, and rods. Ramesh Vankwani, the patron in chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council, took notice of this incident through a call for justice on Twitter. He uploaded a series of videos that went viral on social media and resulted in Prime minister, Imran Khan, taking notice of the attack.
Preceding this incident an 8-year-old Hindu boy was allegedly arrested for desecrating the library of a Madrassa, but later released on bail for being a minor. This created tension among the people of both Hindu and Muslim communities led to an accusation of blasphemy against the boy.
The videos show that in a fit of rage, a mob of more than two dozen people attacked the temple. They could be seen blocking roads, screaming religious slogans, and damaging the infrastructure. The chaos was such that the police were unable to get to the temple to control the violence, and when they did reach the damage was done, and the culprits had dispersed.
The PM’s spokesperson Dr. Shahbaz Gill condemned the incident, stating that the PM’s office had taken notice of the unfortunate occurrence and the administration has been told to take strict action against the perpetrators. He further went on to emphasize the rights of the minorities and the right to practice their religion freely.
Shireen Mazari, the Human Rights Minister, stated that these actions violated the constitution of Pakistan and that the ministry was in continuous contact with the police of Rahim Yar Khan, and further the investigation would be followed up by a visit to the temple by the Parliamentary Secretary.
