MIRPURKHAS/SAN­GHAR: Scores of protesters took part in a rally organised by the local chapter of the Hindu Panchayat Committee on Friday to protest the murder two traders belonging to the community by robbers of in Umerkot.

They started their march from Lal Mandir and converged on the local press club, where former MPA Seth Lachmandas Pirwani and Dr Vishan Das Malhi spoke to them. The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the Umerkot administration and police.

Seth Pirvani said that the Hindu community today was feeling increasingly insecure in Sindh due to rampant kidnappings, robberies, dacoities and murders targeted against members of the community. He condemned the utter failure of the police to control crime and ensure safety and security of citizens.

They warned of a province-wide protest if the killers were not arrested within the next 24 hours.

He termed the murder of Ashok Kumar Malhi and Hiralal Malhi “a deep conspiracy to force the Hindu community to quit the country” and urged the authorities concerned to take effective measures to foil the conspiracy.

In Sanghar, a protest demonstration was held outside the local press club. The leaders said that minorities in Sindh were being kidnapped, attacked, harassed and killed but no measures were being taken to protect them.

Led by Ramesh Malhi, Gul Malhi and others, the protesters demanded immediate arrest of the traders’ killers and steps to protect life and property of Hindu community members.

Hyderabad

PPP-SB leaders Ali Ahmed Palepoto, Aslam Shah and Peeral Majidano in a joint statement deplored the Umerkot incident and called for immediate arrest of the culprits.Meanwhile, Hindu residents of Aliabad and Hala Naka held a protest sit-in outside the local press club on Friday against rising armed robberies in the city.

They observed that under a conspiracy, the minority was being targeted and incidents like the one in Umerkot were on an increase.

Ramji Meghwar and Lalchund Diwan, who led the protest, told the media that five robbers broke into the former’s shop and deprived him of a big amount and other valuables after roughing up salesmen Kirshan, Gango, Mukesh and Ramo.

They said that they reported the incident to the Hatri police station but they were paying no heed to their complaint.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2014