A 13-year-old boy died in aerial firing by police on Thursday after an angry mob in Pakistan’s Balochistan demanded they hand over a Hindu man arrested on blasphemy charges.
Prakash Kumar, 35, was arrested from Hub area of Lasbela district in Balochistan for allegedly sending blasphemous content through WhatsApp.
Violence erupted in Hub after local residents surrounded Kumar, but the timely arrival of the police prevented the mob from lynching Kumar. People demanded that Kumar should be handed over to them for punishment.
However, police escorted Kumar safely to the local police station, even as the mob followed them and pelted stones and burned tyres to vent their anger.
A senior police official said that an FIR was registered against Kumar on the complaint of various community members under the blasphemy laws.
“We have shifted the suspect to Gadani jail for his safety until the case is investigated,” he said.
Police said the mob later gathered outside the police station and tried to barge in.
The people again resorted to pelting stones and the police had to disperse the crowd using tear gas and aerial firing.
Police took about 25 protesters into custody. However, two police officials, along with the Additional Deputy Commissioner Tariq Javed Mengal, were injured in the violence.
Senior Superintendent of Police Lasbela Zia Mandokhel said, “Police registered a case and started a probe after arresting the accused. The cell phone used to send alleged content was also seized.”
A local court has sent the suspect to jail for further interrogation in the case.
In the wake of the violence, Hindus, who own shops in the Hub area, closed down their shops and sought safety. All roads connecting the Sindh province with Balochistan were also closed for traffic to avoid any further violence.
(With PTI and IANS inputs.)
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