Angry mobs set fire to a Hindu temple on Sunday after pages containing verses from the Koran were allegedly burned in the southern Pakistani city of Larkana.
A Hindu thought to be responsible for sparking the violence has already been taken into police custody; the suspect was reported to have recently bought a house and was disposing of extra luggage, which included the pages with Koranic text.
Baton-wielding protesters attacked a Hindu temple and a community office in the main city area – the hometown of slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto – before police arrived and dispersed the crowds, a local journalist, Zafar Abro, told Anadolu Agency.
"A nearby shop owner who found the burned pages informed the police and local people, which led to angry protests."
There have been reports of protestors clashing with police at several locations but no major damage has been noted.
Larnaka Deputy Commissioner, Dr Saeed Ahmed, told reporters that several attackers had been arrested adding that “the situation is very much under control now”.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, expressing concern over the temple attack, directed the authorities to take action.
A Hindu community leader and writer, Kalpana Devi, condemned the burning of the pages and the Hindu temple: "Both incidents are unacceptable. [The] Hindu community is fully ready to cooperate with the administration vis-a-vis investigations into the matter" she told reporters.
"We fully believe in respect to all religions. We fully back an independent inquiry into the matter", she added.
Hindus are the second-largest minority after Christians in Muslim-majority Pakistan, and make up 2 per cent of the total 180 million population. A majority of Hindus live in the southern Sindh province and are mainly involved in the medical profession and business.
By Aamir Latif
englishnews@aa.com.tr
