PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police (IG) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sanaullah Abbasi on Friday announced that the police have arrested the prime suspect behind vandalism of a Hindu temple in Karak district.
“He was arrested from Karak district and was involved in gathering public for the vandalism and inciting them to commit the act,” the IGP said while identifying him as Faizullah.
Sanaullah Abbasi further said that overall 110 people have been arrested by the police for their alleged role in the incident. “We will ensure complete security to minorities and their worship places,” the IGP said.
Earlier on December 30, a highly-charged mob, reportedly led by local clerics, vandalised and set ablaze a historic Hindu temple in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district, officials said. The temple in Karak's Terri area was considered a site of pilgrimage for Hindu community due to its importance as a Yogi Astan. However, local residents were resentful due to the ongoing renovation work in the temple and they attacked the building, demolished it and then set it ablaze.
Police and local authorities were unable to prevent the incident due to the large number of people involved. The historic temple became non-functional after the Partition when all local Hindu families migrated to India but four years ago it was handed over to the Hindu community by the Supreme Court and ever since it was a site for pilgrimage for the community from all over the country especially from Sindh who paid a weekly visit to the site every Thursday.
“He was arrested from Karak district and was involved in gathering public for the vandalism and inciting them to commit the act,” the IGP said while identifying him as Faizullah.
Sanaullah Abbasi further said that overall 110 people have been arrested by the police for their alleged role in the incident. “We will ensure complete security to minorities and their worship places,” the IGP said.
Earlier on December 30, a highly-charged mob, reportedly led by local clerics, vandalised and set ablaze a historic Hindu temple in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district, officials said. The temple in Karak's Terri area was considered a site of pilgrimage for Hindu community due to its importance as a Yogi Astan. However, local residents were resentful due to the ongoing renovation work in the temple and they attacked the building, demolished it and then set it ablaze.
Police and local authorities were unable to prevent the incident due to the large number of people involved. The historic temple became non-functional after the Partition when all local Hindu families migrated to India but four years ago it was handed over to the Hindu community by the Supreme Court and ever since it was a site for pilgrimage for the community from all over the country especially from Sindh who paid a weekly visit to the site every Thursday.