BADIN: A Hindu man was arrested for allegedly desecrating Holy Quran following massive protests and shutdown by Muslim community in Ghotki District of Sindh, police said on Tuesday.

Daharki police said a Hindu man was “caught and handed over” to them by the residents of village Mehrab Samejo for allegedly “desecrating” Holy Quran.

A large number of people in Daharki, Mirpur, Mathelo, Ghotki and adjoining areas of the district took to the streets and blocked National Highway for more than six hours while protesting against the alleged desecration of the holy scripture.

Protesters demanded “severe punishment” for the accused. A First-Information Report (FIR) was also registered against the accused under section 295 (B) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Sensing trouble following a violent protest, the district administration sought help from Pakistan Rangers to control the situation. There have been several incidents of communal disharmony in the Ghotki district over the past few years, police said.

According to the protesters, the accused entered a mosque and “set the holy scripture on fire”.

After taking the Hindu man in custody, police moved him to an undisclosed location for his safety. A police official, who wished not to be named, told Dawn that the police and law enforcement agencies were trying their best to calm down the tense situation.

He added that the police has arrested as many as 30 people on charges of disrupting law and order during raids on different towns in the district.

Despite repeated attempts, SSP Ghotki Masood Bangash was not available for comment.