A Hindu sanitation worker in Pakistan has been arrested in a false blasphemy case for allegedly desecrating the Koran, according to local media reports. The complaint was filed by a local resident after his altercation with the sanitation worker belonging to the minority Hindu community in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Police had to disperse a charged crowd that has gathered around an apartment building to get the worker, identified as Ashok Kumar.
“Hyderabad police disperse violent mob demanding handover of Hindu health worker accusing him of #blasphemy. Police say health worker was targeted due to personal clash with resident local,” Mubashir Zaidi said in a tweet.
Hyderabad police dispersed a violent mob demanding the handover of a Hindu paramedic accusing him of #blasphemy Police say the health worker was attacked due to a personal altercation with a local resident pic.twitter.com/CnSFLNLqhH
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) August 21, 2022
Kumar stayed at the Rabia center in Hyderabad’s Saddar.
On Twitter, Pakistani journalist and columnist Naila Inayat tweeted: “Hindu health worker Ashok Kumar charged with blasphemy for alleged desecration of Quran in Hyderabad. The charge came after a fight with shopkeeper Bilal Abbasi who then filed the complaint against Kumar.”
“Earlier, a charged mob gathered around the apartment building to grab the Hindu man. The police dispersed the mob and arrested the victim,” he added.
Earlier, a charged crowd gathered around the apartment building to get hold of the Hindu man. The police dispersed the crowd and arrested the victim. pic.twitter.com/3j0RHUzzHO
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) August 21, 2022
As the agitated mob wanted to attack the Hindu worker on charges of blasphemy, news agency ANI, citing local media, reported that it was actually a Muslim woman who had burnt the Muslim holy book.
Social media users praised the Hyderabad police for quickly dispersing the violent mob.
One user wrote: “excellent job by Pakistan’s Sindh Police in Hyderabad city, no room for bigotry of any kind – now that a disaster has been averted, the perpetrators and instigators they must be brought to justice.”
“Misuse of draconian blasphemy laws against minorities and even members of the Muslim community to settle personal grudges is rampant in Pakistan,” another user tweeted.
Pakistan has a draconian blasphemy law and many people have been lynched to death on the mere accusation. In December 2021, a Sri Lankan factory manager was beaten to death and set on fire by a mob in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy. The vigilante attack caused outrage, with then-Prime Minister Imran Khan calling it a “shameful day for Pakistan”.
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