BAHAWALPUR: An Anti-Terrorist Court (ATC) in its verdict in the Rahim Yar Khan (Bhong) temple attack case handed down five-year jail term with fine to each of the total 22 accused persons on Wednesday.

ATC judge Nasir Hussain, however, acquitted as many as 62 other accused persons of the charges giving them benefit of doubt.

According to prosecution, the accused persons had on August 4, 2021 had attacked Ghanesh Mandir of the Hindu community in Bhong area of Rahim Yar Khan district and ransacked its building.

The police had arrested a total of 84 persons for attacking and damaging the temple’s building.

ARRESTED: Lodhran district police claimed to have arrested three alleged drug smugglers, recovering 25 kilogram Charas from their possession on Wednesday.

According to investigation SP Khalid Javed, on a tip-off, a team of Dhanote police during checking near Basti Lyallpur, checked a car, recovering 25kg Charas hidden in it.

The police arrested three car occupants Husnain and Ghulam Ghaus of Bahawalnagar and Sajid of Yazman and impounded the car.

The police said the arrested suspects were members of an inter-district gang of smugglers.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2022