LAHORE, Nov 13: Police on Sunday registered a terrorism case against people in mob who torched and ransacked three churches, a school, a hostel and some houses on Saturday in retaliation for an alleged desecration of the Holy Quran in Sangla Hill.
Of the hundreds of people booked on charges of terrorism and damaging public property, 88 have already been taken into custody, according to Nankana police chief Tahir Alam.
“Raids are being conducted for more arrests, especially for those who have been nominated by the churches’ administration,” he told Dawn.
He said the desecration accused, Yousuf Masih, had already been booked under 295-B, and some of his friends had been detained. He claimed that the situation the area was normal now and police were striving maintain peace.
However, members of the Christian community alleged that the incident had taken place because of police inaction. “The police ignored repeated requests by priests, who have been making calls to all officials concerned, including the police chief,” All Pakistan Minorities Alliance chairman Shahbaz Bhatti said. He alleged that police acted as onlookers and did not bother to stop the mob.
The police chief said that it was difficult to handle the charged mob which had divided into groups and spread all over the town. “We concentrated on protecting human lives.”
The Christian community leader also said that police failed to deploy force in troubled areas when calls were made from mosques for action against the alleged desecration.
The alleged desecration took place on Friday in a fire at the Quran Mahal library in the locality. One Kalu Suniara alleged that he had seen Yousuf Masih setting the library on fire.
However, Mr Bhatti alleged that Suniara had been losing money in gambling to Yousuf Masih for some days, and was the reason behind the desecration allegation.
He claimed that four witnesses, two each from the Muslim and Christian communities, had deposed before a group of local people and police that Yousuf Masih had nothing to do with the fire.
He accused some seminary students of having played the main role in instigating the people. He alleged that some of the seminary students belonging to a banned religious organization had been brought to the locality from other cities.
Meanwhile, the Christian community held prayers on the main road in Sangla Hill on Sunday in protest against the incident. “We do not have any place in the area to worship, Samuel Masih said.
He added that the Christian community in the area was living in fear and felt insecure. Mr Bhatti said over 1,000 Christian residents had left the locality after the incident. Some of them had returned back to their homes, but other were living with their friends or relatives in nearby towns.
The police chief said people should not be worried about security and get back to their homes. “We will provide complete protection.
LAHORE, Nov 13: Police on Sunday registered a terrorism case against people in mob who torched and ransacked three churches, a school, a hostel and some houses on Saturday in retaliation for an alleged desecration of the Holy Quran in Sangla Hill.
