India calls out Pakistan's horrific destruction of Hindu temple; lodges strong protest

India has lodged a strong protest over demolishing of a Hindu temple in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sources said on Friday. protest has been lodged via diplomatic channels, y said. India conveyed serious concerns to Pakistan High Commission at repeated instances of similar nature, of atrocities against members of minority community. Centre has demanded that Pakistan government should investigate matter and take strict action against those responsible for vandalisation and demolition of temple. 

This comes two days after an attack on a Hindu temple in Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district on Wednesday which drew strong condemnation from human rights activists and Hindu community leers.

Govt orders temple's reconstruction

According to Pakistani officials, over 30 people, mostly members of a rical Islamist party, have been arrested after temple was vandalised and set on fire by a mob protesting against its expansion work.  On Thursday, provincial government ordered authorities to reconstruct damaged temple as it vowed to bring culprits to justice.

temple was attacked by mob after members of Hindu community received permission from local authorities to renovate its deces-old building, according to witnesses. mob, led by a local cleric and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party (Fazal ur Rehman group), demolished newly constructed work alongside old structure, news agency PTI quoting witnesses said.

According to local police, y arrested more than 30 people, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leer Rehmat Salam Khattak, in overnight raids. Over 350 people have been named in FIR, Provincial Police Chief KPK Sanaullah Abbasi has said.

Abbasi said all sections of law relating to terrorism have been included in FIR against accused. police will ensure protection to worship places of minorities in province, he ded. Meanwhile, Supreme Court on Thursday took notice of attack and ordered local authorities to appear before court on January 5.

Leer of Hindu Community Peshawar Haroon Sarab Diyal said that a samhi of a Hindu religious leer exists at temple site and Hindu families from across country do visit samhi on every Thursday. Samhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj is considered sacred by Hindu community. It was built where he died in 1919 in Teri village of Karak.

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incident in town of Karak drew condemnation from Pakistan's minister for human rights, Shireen Mazari. Mazari on Wednesday took to Twitter to condemn burning of temple and urged law enforcement officials to ensure arrest of those involved.

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act against Hindu minority community is widely condemned by human rights activists based in Pakistan and or parts of world.

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(With PTI inputs)