LAHORE, Sept 12: Tension ran high in a village in Chungi Amar Sadhu on Monday after a man was arrested on blasphemy charges on Sunday. However, police denied that Christian families had begun leaving the village in fear of backlash from the local people.

“We are trying to settle the issue. There are no chances of any backlash,” a police officer said.

One or two families might have left for their relatives, he said, but there was nothing such at a large scale.

Younus Masih alias Chappa Masih, 40, had been booked on blasphemy charges on Saturday after he allegedly made derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) at a Qawali function arranged by another Christian.

Some 500 villagers had gathered outside the Factory Area police station on Saturday night, demanding registration of a case against him.

In response, he reached the police station along with his wife and two daughters claiming that they had been beaten up by the villagers.

However, they were rescued by the police when the villagers attempted to attack them.

The police officer said the matter was under investigation.

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