SIALKOT: A building belonging to the Ahmadi community in the city’s congested Kashmiri Mohallah was demolished on Wednesday night, amid allegations that this act was carried out by mob urged on in the name of faith.

Another version said it was an illegal construction and while the demolition was led by workers assigned the job by the authorities, a bunch of zealots joined them in the task.

Witnesses said this attack on Ahmadiya Baitul Zikr, a place of religious significance for the Ahmadiya community, was carried out by around 250 people. The attackers were armed with all kind of handy tools — hammers, iron rods, bricks and wooden sticks.

The mob, said to comprise activists of local religious parties and students of seminaries, were chanting slogans, according to the video clips of the incident. These clips went viral on social media in no time.

Some employees of the Sialkot Municipal Corporation also among the raiding party took part in the demolition. The public reaction is said to be a result of an attempt to — “illegally” — set up a museum at the place.

On May 9 last, the Municipal Corporation and the district administration had sealed this worship place after strong protest by some local religious parties. A contingent of police and personnel of other law-enforcement agencies remained present there to avert any reaction by the community and to maintain law and order.

Police have yet to register a case saying no one has submitted an application to the Naikapura police station so far.

On May 9, the corporation officials had got a case (No 271/2018) registered at the Naikapura police station under section 132(3) of the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 against Mumtaz Butt and Abdul Sattar for starting “illegal” construction of a museum at their worship place.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2018