Lahore: Police in Punjab Province Punjab Pakistan on Saturday said they had arrested 20 people and ordered more than 150 other people because of their alleged involvement in an attack on a Hindu temple in a remote city in the country.
Police actions came after the State Supreme Court on Friday pulled the authority for failing to stop the attack and ordered the arrest of the perpetrators, observing that the incident had tarnished the image of the country abroad.
Hundreds of people, carrying sticks, stones and bricks attacked the temple, burned the parts and damaged idols, in the Bhong area of the Rahimyar Khan District of the province in protest against the release of an eight-year-old Hindu child, who was arrested for alleged urinating in Local seminary.
“We have so far captured more than 20 suspects suspected of being involved in attacking temples in Bhong,” District Police Officers (DPO) Rahim Yar Khan Asad Sarfraz told reporters.
He said more arrests were estimated in the coming days because the police identified the suspect through video recording.
A fireen has been registered under terrorism and other parts of the Pakistani criminal code against more than 150 because of their involvement in attacking the temple, he said.
“We will arrest each suspect involved in this crime.
About the APEX court order, the temple restoration work has begun,” he said.
On Friday, Judge Chairman Gulzar Ahmed said that Vandalism at the temple had been embarrassing to the country when the police acted like a silent audience.
The chairman of the judge wondered the arrest of the eight-year-old boy and asked whether the police were unable to understand the mental capacity of minors.
Pakistani Parliament on Friday condemned a temple attack by adopting a resolution.
Hearing in this case has been postponed until August 13.
India on Thursday called Pakistan Charge D’Affaires in New Delhi and submitted a company protest, expressing great concern at this despicable incident and continuous attack on the freedom of their religious minority and religious places in Pakistan.
Hindus forms the largest minority community in Pakistan.
According to official estimates, 75 Hindu Lakh lived in Pakistan.
However, according to the community, more than 90 Hindu lakh lived in this country.
The majority of Pakistani Hindu residents settled in the Sindh Province where they shared culture, tradition and language with Muslim residents.
They often complain of harassment by extremists.
20 Arrested, More Than 150 Booked in Pakistan for Hindu Temple Attack
