HYDERABAD: A Hindu temple was burnt in Tando Mohammad Khan district behind Barrage Colony area by unidentified persons.

The incident is reported to have taken place on late Thursday night.

A deity and religious books in the temple were reduced to ashes in the suspected arson attack.

Police have confirmed the incident while local Hindu community leaders informed that a case has been lodged against unidentified persons who were seen fleeing from the area on two motorbikes.

SSP Tando Mohammad Khan, Naseem Aara Panwhar confirmed the incident but denied that it was a full-fledged temple.

According to her, an elevated surface or platform had been built where the community was keeping their religious books and deities.

“We had asked them not to keep these things in this manner and at least raise proper boundary walls. But they did not care,” she said.

The Hindu community leaders including Dr Girdarilal Mirchomal Gul and Mohan Lal insisted that it was an old temple where residents used to worship till late at night.

“On Thursday night at around 11:30pm, devotees ended their prayers after which the people and the caretaker left,” said Dr Girdarilal.

He said that when they returned early Friday morning they found a deity and books completely burnt.

Also see: Hindu temple attacked after desecration rumours

SSP Panwhar said that a witness told police that he had seen four people riding two motorbikes fleeing from the area.

“There was no sense of people visiting the area at that hour, so we believe that those four persons are actually involved in the incident,” she said.

According to Mohan Lal, Sindh minority affairs minister also sent a team from the ministry which inspected the site.

He said that the temple didn’t have proper boundary walls and anyone could enter it easily.

Reports said that people belonging to Hindu community held a meeting on Friday under the aegis of Hindu Panchayat and vowed to remain peaceful.

They however demanded protection and arrest of those involved in the incident.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Ejaz Shah Bukhari, who is from the area, visited the temple and met with Panchayat leaders. He said that PPP would fully cooperate with them.

Activists of different nationalist parties also staged protests to demand arrest of culprits.

Earlier this year, a Kali Mata temple in Hyderabad was burnt on March 28 near Fateh Chowk. A deity was also burnt in the incident, leading to an outcry by the Hindu community calling for protection.

Read also: Arson attack on Hindu temple in Hyderabad triggers protest

Temple torching incidents were also reported in other parts of Sindh in March as well. The Hindu community feels that the attacks are part of a conspiracy aimed at forcing them to migrate from Sindh.