KARACHI, Sept 30: Police said on Sunday that they had opened a rare blasphemy case against nine people who attacked and looted a Hindu temple in the city during recent anti-US protests over a hate film.

“A case under the blasphemy law has been registered against nine people for ransacking a Hindu temple and looting gold ornaments from there in Gadap Town neighbourhood on September 21,” local police station chief Jaffar Baloch said.

The suspects were at large and police were searching for them, he said.

Police said that about 250 Hindu families lived in Gadap Town, along with other minority communities of Christians and Sikhs.

Another police officer, Mohammad Hanif, said the attack on the temple took place on Sept 21. The government had declared that day a national holiday – a “Day of Love for the Prophet (peace be upon him)” – and called on people to demonstrate peacefully against the anti-Islam film that has sparked protests throughout the Muslim world. Those rallies took a violent turn in Pakistan, and more than 20 people were killed.

Mr Hanif said dozens of protesters led by a cleric attacked the Sri Krishna Ram temple, broke statues, tore up a copy of the Bhagavad Gita and beat up the temple’s caretaker, Sindha Maharaj.

The officer said the case against the attackers was registered under Section 295-A of the blasphemy laws, which covers the “outraging of religious feelings”.—Agencies