Pakistan arrests 4 boys for temple vandalism; Hindu minister seeks blasphemy charges

Four boys have been arrested in Pakistan for ir alleged involvement in vandalising a temple in Sindh province with a Hindu minister seeking blasphemy charges against minors, a media report said on Tuesday. boys, aged 15, 13, 13 and 12, have confessed to crime and said that y carried out act to steal money from temple, Dawn newspaper quoted police officials as saying.

Mata Deval Bhittani temple in a village near Thar's Chhachro town in Sindh province was vandalised on Sunday night by some unidentified persons who also desecrated idols of deities, report said. An FIR was registered against vandals on directions of Thar Senior Superintendent of Police Abdullah Ahmedyar on Monday. All four accused, who belong Chhachhro town, were arrested by Tharparkar police on Monday for vandalising place of worship, report said.

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Minorities Affairs Hari Ram Kishori Lal has asked police to register a blasphemy case against accused, it said. According to minorities department, Lal directed police to conduct an investigation into incident and arrest miscreants.

"Chhachro is known for peace, communal harmony and religious tolerance. re must be some miscreants behind incident who want to create (communal) disturbances in area. Such incidents are intolerable as y shock entire Hindu community," report quoted minister as saying.

police h sought help from "local experts" who were examining footprints of miscreants to identify m, Chhachro Station House Officer Hussain Bux Rajar said. Special Assistant to Sindh chief minister on human rights, vocate Veerji Kolhi, said that miscreants h meant to disturb communal peace in area and urged people of all communities to stay calm.

He promised that those responsible will be brought to justice. Hindus form biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in country. Majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where y share culture, tritions and language with ir Muslim fellows.