Pakistan: Mob vandalise school, temple after Hindu school teacher is accused of blasphemy
Ghotki, Pakistan: In what might emerge as another incident of targeting minorities in Pakistan, a mob vandalised a school, three temples and several houses belonging to the Hindu community in the country's Ghotki district on Sunday after a student's father reportedly accused a school principal of blasphemy.
The principal belongs to the Hindu community in the country.
The incident took place on September 14.
The protests began on Saturday after a first information report of (FIR) was filed against a principal — who is from the Hindu community — of Sindh Public School on the complaint of Abdul Aziz Rajput, a student's father who claimed that the former had committed blasphemy, reported Dawn News.
The FIR was lodged under Article 295(c) — that pertains to "derogatory remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)" — of the Pakistan Penal Code, reported the Pakistani newspaper.
Videos have emerged where attackers could be seen vandalising the school and a Hindu temple.
Hundreds of angry protesters can be seen attacking the school and damaging the property. The situation in Ghotki over the blasphemy accusations against a Hindu principal is getting out of control, said reports.
The problem in Ghotki continues, and since yesterday three temples, a school and multiple houses belonging to the Hindu community have been affected, latest reports said.
Extremists have not only desecrated temples, but also attacked homes of Hindu community members and blocked roads.
Ghotki Senior Superintendent of Police Farrukh Lanjar was quoted by Dawn News as saying that police were controlling the law and order situation in the area.
Advocate Veerji Kolhi, special assistant to Chief Minister Sindh on Human Rights, told Dawn: "The situation is being handled properly to avoid further damage or riots."
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MNA Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, who is also the head of the Pakistan Hindu Council, told Dawn that the case has been handed over to Hyderabad Deputy Inspector General Naeem Shaikh who will further investigate the matter.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressed concern over the incident and shared a video footage where a mob could be seen vandalising the school premise.
"Alarming reports of accusations of blasphemy in #Ghotki and the outbreak of mob violence," the Commission tweeted.
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