HYDERABAD: Sindh Minister for Minority Affairs Gyan Chand Esrani has said the foremost responsibility of his department is to ensure protection of religious places of minorities. The government is taking certain steps, including induction of Hindu youths into police, raising of boundary walls of temples and fencing them with barbed wires and installation of CCTV cameras and other equipment, to ensure protection of religious places.

The minister was speaking at a press conference along with Sindh Minister for Fisheries Jam Khan Shoro at the local circuit house after visiting the Shiv temple standing within its boundaries. A man was booked soon after he damaged some idols with his hammer in the temple a couple of days ago.

Strongly condemning the incident, Mr Esrani said nobody could be allowed to indulge in such activities. He noted that the suspect was reported an insane person, adding that a report of his medical examination was awaited. He said he himself had asked police officials to investigate the matter thoroughly and identify if anyone was bent upon undermining communal harmony. He held out the assurance that culprits of such crime would be given exemplary punishment.

The minister said that action had been taken against such criminals in the past.

He said the Sindh government had prepared a programme to appoint youths of minority communities in police to ensure protection of religious places. They would be posted at temples and other religious places for at least three years, he said.

Moreover, 2,000 CCTV cameras would be installed at worship places of minorities in the first phase, he added.

Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Fayyaz Ahmed Jatoi, Pakistan Hindu Council adviser Dilip Kumar Daultani and others were present.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2015

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