Riots in Pak's Sindh over alleged blasphemy by Hindu school principal

Riots broke out in Pakistan's Sindh province on Sunday after a school principal from the minority Hindu community was booked on charges of alleged blasphemy, according to a media report. Widespread protests erupted in Ghotki district after an FIR was filed against the principal of Sindh Public School on the complaint of Abdul Aziz Rajput, a student's father who claimed that the teacher had committed blasphemy. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan shared a video of protesters breaking the infrastructure of the school and expressed concern over the situation. "Alarming reports of accusations of blasphemy in Ghotki and the outbreak of mob violence," the rights organisation said in a tweet. READ | IAF gets upgraded Spice 2000 bomb used in Balakot strike against Pak Riots break out over blasphemy allegation in Pak's Sindh Videos of stick-wielding protesters were shared on social media in which they were seen vandalising a Hindu temple and damaging the school where the incident took place, the Dawn newspaper reported. Activists and journalists took to Twitter to share videos and images of the rioting and appealed to the Sindh government to protect the minority Hindu community, the report said. Ghotki Senior Superintendent of Police Farrukh Lanjar, while talking to reporters, said that police were controlling the law and order situation in the area. Sukkur Additional IGP Jamil Ahmed confirmed the worrying developments in a tweet, saying that police were "trying to deal with a serious situation". "Yes we are trying to deal with a serious situation in a cool, calculated, impartial and professional manner. Moderate and educated sections of society must fully support our earnest efforts to do justice and maintain peace in Ghotki, please," the senior officer said. READ | Pakistan minister shares old video to target India, gets called out Twitter users from Pakistan share videos on the incident Twitterati from Pakistan shared videos showing properties of Hindus being vandalised following the blasphemy accusation. A Hindu principal of Sindh Public School has been booked under 295-C for alleged blasphemy on the complaint of a student's father in Ghotki. Riots broke out with the temple vandalised and nearby Hindu properties damaged. pic.twitter.com/YpieuBqCPs — Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) September 15, 2019 Now who will be booked for the desecration of the temple and holy scriptures? According to the locals the blasphemy allegation against the principal was made by a student who is a minor. Does a minor's testimony count? pic.twitter.com/rEv1nnfK1U — Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) September 15, 2019 Amid tense situation, this mob led by the notorious Mian Mithoo is still threatening the Hindu community in Ghotki.pic.twitter.com/CbA1vhqidD — Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) September 15, 2019 #Hindus living in #Ghotki are under seige as miscreants are vandalizing properties of Hindus & temples after a teacher Notan Das was accused of blasphamy. Mr Das has been teaching since 30 years, but some vested interests are distorting peace & interfaith harmony in #Sindh. pic.twitter.com/VQREltuz4E — Kapil Dev (@KDSindhi) September 15, 2019 READ | J&K part of sovereign India, Pak should leave PoK: UK MP Bob Blackman PTI leader says principal taken to safe location Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, who is also the head of the Pakistan Hindu Council, said the principal was at an undisclosed location for safety reasons and will be handed over to Hyderabad Deputy Inspector General Naeem Shaikh who will further investigate the matter. "I have talked to Sindh Inspector General of Police Kaleem Imam who has assured me the police will fully protect the accused, therefore, I am going to hand [the principal] over to police either in Karachi or in Hyderabad today," he was quoted as saying in the report. Protests were also held in surrounding towns, including Mirpur Mathelo and Adilpur, where demonstrators blocked roads and demanded that the police arrest the school principal. Rights activist Sattar Zangejo said the Hindu community of the area was forced to remain indoors due to the riots. Advocate Veerji Kolhi, special assistant to Chief Minister Sindh on Human Rights, told Dawn: "The situation is being handled properly to avoid further damage or riots". According to reports in the local media, the rioters included supporters of controversial religious leader Pir Abdul Haq alias Mian Mithu, who is accused of involvement in forced conversion of Hindu women in Sindh. READ | US-Afghan operation in Paktika province kills at least 90 terrorists

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Riots in Pak's Sindh over alleged blasphemy by Hindu school principal

Riots broke out in Pakistan's Sindh province on Sunday after a school principal from the minority Hindu community was booked on charges of alleged blasphemy.

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