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Violence in Pak After Hindu Veterinary Doctor Accused of Blasphemy

The doctor had allegedly torn pages of a holy book and wrapped medicines in them.

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A Hindu veterinary doctor was arrested on Monday, 27 May, after a local cleric filed a police complaint accusing him of committing blasphemy in Pakistan's southern Sindh province.

Under Pakistan's blasphemy laws, anyone accused of insulting Islam can be sentenced to death.

The doctor, identified as Ramesh Kumar, was taken into custody while angry protestors set fire to shops owned by Hindus and burnt tyres on roads in Phuladyon town in Mirpurkhas district in the province, The Express Tribune reported.

The head cleric of the local mosque, Maulvi Ishaq Nohri, filed the complaint with the police alleging that the doctor had torn pages of a holy book and wrapped medicines in them.
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Zahid Hussain Leghari, the Station House Officer of the local police station, said that a case was registered against the doctor.

Leghari said a proper investigation would be carried out and the doctor had been taken to a safe location after the unrest broke out in the town.

A large number of Hindus reside in the interior of Sindh province and in Karachi, and the Pakistan Hindu Council has complained in the past of minority community members being targeted under the blasphemy law by people because of personal enmity.

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Violence Erupts

As the incident came to light, protesters set ablaze a doctor's clinic, a medical store, and two shops belonging to members of the Hindu community. They also blocked roads by burning tyres, media reports said.

There were reports that the protesters also looted some shops.

With the situation spiraling out of control, local authorities had called in the paramilitary Rangers to deal with the mob violence. Police also registered a case against those engaged in rioting.

"It's an unfortunate incident. We have taken the doctor into custody and are investigating the incident," Senior Superintendent of Police Mirpurkhas Javed Baloch had said.

He said a case had been registered and police had established a picket in the town to deal with any untoward incident.

"The situation is now normal," he had said, adding that the police would take action against those who have ransacked properties of the Hindu community.

"We have detained some suspects on charges of damaging properties,” he added.

The Mirpurkhas deputy commissioner said the government would compensate those whose properties were damaged during the violence.

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At least 1,472 people were charged under Pakistan's blasphemy laws between 1987 and 2016, according to statistics collected by the Center for Social Justice, a Lahore-based advocacy group.

Hindus form the biggest minority community in the Muslim-majority Pakistan.

According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.

Majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with their Muslim fellows.

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Topics:  Pakistan   blasphemy 

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