Pakistan: Two Hindu temples attacked in a day including a 150-year-old Mari Mata Temple

Islamabad, July 17: Two Hindu temples were attacked and desecrated in Pakistan within a span of just 24 hours. A 150-year-old Mari Mata Temple was demolished in Karachi's Soldier Bazaar whereas a gang of dacoits attacked a place of Hindu worship with “rocket launchers” in Sindh’s Kashmore.

 

 

 

According to locals, the operation took place late Friday night while there was no electricity in the area. That's when the diggers and bulldozers arrived to finish the job. They razed the entire inside structure while leaving the outer walls and the main gate intact.

 

According to them, the Mari Mata Temple lies on Mukhi Chohitram Road, very close to the Soldier Bazaar police station.

 

Shri Ram Nath Mishra Maharaj of Shri Panch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir, another very old temple nearby told Dawn, “It is a very old Mandir.”

 

He also said, “It is said to have been built over 150 years ago. We have also heard of stories about old treasures buried in its courtyard,” adding that it covered nearly 400 to 500 square yards and there had been conversation of the encroachers, who had their eye on it for some time now, reported Dawn.

 

“The Mandir was under the management of the Madarsi Hindu community of Karachi and since it was being said that it was very old and dangerous structure that might topple any day, the Mandir management after much pressure reluctantly but temporarily moved most of their deities to a small room near the storm water train until they could carry out some renovation work there,” he added.

 

He also said, “But last night the Mari Mata Mandir was just flattened.”

 

 

In Kashmore, the assailants attacked the temple and the adjoining homes belonging to Hindus under the jurisdiction of the Ghouspur police station. They fired indiscriminately at the temples and homes. After the firing noise, a police unit led by Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo reached the scene.

 

The police official said that the dacoits fired “rocket launchers” at the place of worship. Fortunately, the temple was closed during the attack. The police official added that the temple opens annually for religious services conducted by the Bagri community, the Dawn reported.

 

SSP Sammo said, “The suspects fled from the scene after the attack. Police are conducting a search operation in the area.” He added that there were around eight to nine gunmen and they were tracking them in the riverine areas.

 

Dr. Suresh is a member of the Bagri community. He informed that the dacoits fired “rocket launchers” but they failed to explode, resulting in no loss of life.

 

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, around 30 Hindus including women and children, were allegedly held hostage by organised criminal gangs.

 

The commission also expressed concerns that the criminals have threatened to attack Hindu temples with high-graded weapons. It said, “Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community’s sites of worship, using high-grade weapons.”

 

It also called on the Sindh Home Department to investigate the matter without delay.