PESHAWAR, May 21: A senior police official on Monday began inquiry into the reported ransacking of a Hindu temple in Gor Khuttri area amid serious doubts about trespass or attack.

The initial report prepared by police says neither anyone broke the temple’s locks nor did anyone damage the bolt of its door before storming the premises, according to an official of the Kotawali police station, in whose area the incident was reported on Sunday evening.

The official said police had begun investigation into the incident from many different angles. He said Hindus were trying to get residential facilities along the temple and that investigation would tell about the attackers.

However, a local Hindu, Ramesh, told police in writing that six unidentified people stormed the temple at around 6pm on Sunday and turned everything at the place of worship upside down.

He said Hindus had demanded a residential facility (room) in the area to supervise the temple but it was not given to them.

However, an official of the archeology department told Dawn that Hindus had been performing religious rituals at the temple since the Peshawar High Court issued orders for it.

“We let them worship there but they demanded residential facility,” he said.

Also in the day, provincial tourism and archeology minister Aqil Shah visited the temple on the orders of the chief minister and said it was safe.

He said the temple was neither set on fire nor was any of its statues stolen and that the incident was reported out of proportion.

The minister said some miscreants tried to create harassment and the provincial government condemned the act in strong words.

“Height of the temple’s walls will be increased, while its street will be paved and decorated at the cost of Rs3 million.

Work on it will begin in August and end in December 2012,” he said.

Mr Shah directed local police and administration to ensure security of the temple. He said reports of Peshawar DCO and archeology director about the incident would be presented to the chief minister.

Meanwhile, provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, too, visited the temple and said the incident would be thoroughly investigated and strict action would taken against the culpable people if any.

He said the government believed in religious and sectarian harmony and all people living in the province were equal citizens for it irrespective of their religion, sect or race.

The minister ordered renovation and safety of the temple.

Meanwhile, members of civil society organisations also protested the incident and urged the government to provide protection to religious minorities and places of their worship. They also asked people to play their role in creating interfaith harmony by condemning acts of terror against minorities.