Hindu youth killed, another injured in mob attack in Pakistan

Islamabad, July 27

A Hindu youth was killed and another injured on Wednesday when they were shot during a mob attack in Sindh province of Pakistan following tension over alleged desecration of the holy Quran a day ago.

The attack came after a Hindu man was arrested for allegedly desecrating the Quran on Tuesday, Dawn online reported.

Dewan Sateesh Kumar, 17, was killed and his friend Avinash was in a critical condition after the two were shot while having tea at a stall in Gothki district.

Hindu community leaders have demanded protection to their lives and properties as communal tension ran high in the district following Tuesday's incident of alleged desecration of the Quran.

Locals said the suspect, Amar Lal, was a drug addict who lived in a mosque after converting to Islam few months ago. His mental condition was "unstable", they said.

Some burnt pages of the holy book were found outside an old mosque in Daharki where the emotionally charged protesters on Tuesday held a sit-in, demanding the arrest of the culprit, the Dawn reported.

The accused was taken into custody and shifted to an undisclosed location.

Local leaders of religious parties, including Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) and Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ), have demanded "severe punishment" for the accused.

Demonstrators in the district burnt tyres, ransacked shops owned by Hindus and clashed with the police. — IANS