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KHUZDAR: Trade and business activities partially remained suspended in Hub, the industrial town of Lasbela district, on Friday following tension over Thursday’s violent protest which had left a 12-year-old boy dead and some police officials injured.
A protest erupted in the city on Thursday after a 29-year-old minority community trader was accused of sharing blasphemous content on social media. It turned violent when police refused to hand over the suspect — who was in their custody — to angry protesters gathered outside the police station.
On Friday, personnel of police, Frontier Corps and other security agencies provided tight security to the Hindu population living in the town.
Deputy Commissioner of Lasbella Mujeebur Rehman visited Hindu localities in the town. Some protesters staged a sit-in at the town’s Seerat Chowk for a while, but they dispersed when security personnel reached there.
Lasbela’s District Police Officer Zia Mandokhail told Dawn that cases had been registered against some people who were involved in Thursday’s violence, adding that they were identified through CCTV camera footage.
Commissioner of Kalat division Hashim Ghilzai visited Hindu communities in Uthal and Bela in Lasbela district. He also visited some temples in the district and expressed solidarity with members of the Hindu community.
He said personnel of law enforcement agencies would provide them security.
He thanked media personnel for responsible reporting during the crisis.
Talking to journalists, the deputy commissioner said the blasphemy suspect was in police custody and a case had been registered against him.
He said the administration would take action against those who would break the law and incite people to violence.
Talking about Thursday’s incident, he said the police had to use force when the unruly mob turned violent.
The deputy commissioner appealed to the people of the town to remain peaceful and respect the law. He also appealed to religious leaders to play their role in the restoration of peace in the town.
Published in Dawn, May 06th, 2017
