Karachi: Idols at a Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Karachi city were destroyed in another incident of vandalism against places of worship of the minority community in the country, police have said.
The incident took place at the Shri Mari Maata Mandir in Karachi’s Korangi area on Wednesday, June 8.
Upon being informed, police reached the area, inspected the temple and inquired about the incident.
The Express Tribune newspaper reported that the incident caused panic and fear among members of the Hindu community living in Karachi, particularly in the Korangi area where police were deployed to avoid any untoward incidents.
Sanjeev, a Hindu resident of the area, told the newspaper that six to eight individuals on motorcycles came into the area and attacked the temple. “We don’t know who has attacked and why,” he said, adding that the police were approached to lodge a case.
Five to six unknown suspects entered the temple and escaped after vandalising it, Korangi SHO Farooq Sanjrani confirmed. He added that a case was being registered against the unknown suspects who attacked the temple.
Temples belonging to the minority Hindu population in Pakistan are often the target of mob violence. In October, a historical temple located at the bank of the Indus River in Kotri was allegedly desecrated by unidentified people.
In August, dozens of people reportedly vandalised a Hindu temple in the town of Bhong and blocked the Sukkur-Multan Motorway after an eight-year-old Hindu boy, who allegedly urinated in a local seminary, was granted bail by a local court.
Following the court’s decision, a mob of young men gathered and vandalised the Shree Ganesh Hindu temple in the town, according to the paper.
According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country. The majority of Pakistan’s Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents. They often complain of harassment by extremists.