DADU: Activists of nationalist, religious and political parties, civil society organisations and members of general public took part in a march against desecration of the dead body of a local Hindu trader by a gang of land-grabbers who had also occupied 13 acres land of crematorium.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Ashiq Ali Zounr, Pakistan Peoples Party-Shaheed Bhutto district president Comrade Ali Mohammad Jamali, Dadu Press Club president Sabir Khan Bhand, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s Maulana Anwar Ali Khunharo, Awami Tehreek office-bearer Naseer Baloch and Hindu Panchayat district president Gurmukh Das, who led the march, said that the gang of influential land-grabbers who had also occupied 13 acres of the crematorium were involved in the desecration of the dead body of Kaka Kewal Ram Rathore six days ago.

They demanded arrest of all the suspects involved in the incident and believed they had defiled the body on purpose to keep their hold on the crematorium land and frighten away Hindu community.

They condemned the incident and said that it was unimaginable in Sindh, which was the land of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Sachal Sarmast and Sami who had always preached peace, love and universal brotherhood.

The protesters marched from Allama I.I. Qazi Road to the press club and staged demonstrations en route at SSP Chowk and Kutchehry Road and finally at the press club.

Police arrest six suspects

Police have arrested suspects nominated in the FIR filed under Sections 295-A, 297, 186, 147, 148 PPC against Hajan, Ghulam Yaseen, Lal Bux Solangi, Javed Solangi, Mohammad Usman, Haji Khan Solangi and 25 other unknown persons for desecration of the trader’s body.

SHO of A-Section police station, Shafi Mohammad Golo, said that six persons were involved in the desecration of the body.

Dadu additional deputy commissioner Nazeer Soomro said that notices had been issued to alleged land-grabbers who had occupied the land of crematorium.

DHO Dr Zahid Dawachh said that last rites of Kaka Kewal Ram were in the process under supervision of teams of doctors according to SOPs when some people forced their way into the crematorium and desecrated the body.

He said that late Kewal was a cardiac patient and had difficulty breathing as well. He had also tested positive for Covid-19 and was quarantined at home. He died due to heart attack six days ago, he said.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2020