LAHORE: Police in Pakistan's Punjab province on Sunday booked over 450 people for attacking members of the minority Christian community and police personnel over the issue of alleged desecration of a religious book and booked 25 of them on terrorism and other charges. Arrested under charges.
An angry mob led by radical Islamist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP activists) on Saturday attacked members of the Christian community in Mujahi Colony in Punjab's Sargodha district, about 200 km from Lahore, injuring two Christians and 10 policemen. Gave. The mob attacked and committed arson. The houses and properties of Christians were vandalized.
According to the FIR, over 450 people, of whom 50 are named, surrounded the residence and shoe factory of Nazir Masih (an elderly Christian) and accused him of insulting a religious book.The mob set fire to a shoe factory, some shops and some houses. "I also brutally burnt Masih, but the timely arrival of a heavy police contingent saved the lives of Masih and 10 other members of the Christian community," the FIR said.
Although Christ's family denied insulting the religious book, the mob wanted to lynch him.
It said, “When the angry mob resorted to lathicharge to disperse the police personnel, they pelted stones at them. At least 10 policemen, including officers, were injured.,
"There was no loss of life or property in the mob attack," a police statement said. More than 10 police officers and soldiers have been injured due to stone pelting by angry people. The police risked their lives and saved the families and pulled them out of the crowd. Thanks to the timely action taken by Sargodha Police, I was saved from a major tragedy."
"The situation in the city is completely peaceful and under control," it said.
It said the injured Christian Nazir has been shifted to the Combine Military Hospital in Sargodha for treatment.Police said that if Nazir is found guilty of insulting a religious text, a case will be registered against him.
Punjab Police said that currently more than 2,000 policemen have been deployed in Sargodha Mujahid Colony to maintain law and order.
On Saturday, several video clips of mob attacks on Christian community properties were circulating on social media.
Nazir Masih's relative Ifran Gil Masih told that his uncle had returned from Dubai after four years.
He said that some people of the area falsely accused him of insulting the holy book.He said Christian families saved their lives by locking themselves inside their homes as the mob moved towards them. He said that the atmosphere in the area is tense and Christians are scared.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it is seriously concerned by the emerging situation in Sargodha, where the Christian community in Gilwala village is reportedly facing serious threat to their lives at the hands of the mob.
Last year, at least 24 Christian churches and more than 80 houses in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad district, about 130 km from the provincial capital, were burnt by a mob angry over reports of two Christians insulting the Quran.
An angry mob led by radical Islamist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP activists) on Saturday attacked members of the Christian community in Mujahi Colony in Punjab's Sargodha district, about 200 km from Lahore, injuring two Christians and 10 policemen. Gave. The mob attacked and committed arson. The houses and properties of Christians were vandalized.
According to the FIR, over 450 people, of whom 50 are named, surrounded the residence and shoe factory of Nazir Masih (an elderly Christian) and accused him of insulting a religious book.The mob set fire to a shoe factory, some shops and some houses. "I also brutally burnt Masih, but the timely arrival of a heavy police contingent saved the lives of Masih and 10 other members of the Christian community," the FIR said.
Although Christ's family denied insulting the religious book, the mob wanted to lynch him.
It said, “When the angry mob resorted to lathicharge to disperse the police personnel, they pelted stones at them. At least 10 policemen, including officers, were injured.,
"There was no loss of life or property in the mob attack," a police statement said. More than 10 police officers and soldiers have been injured due to stone pelting by angry people. The police risked their lives and saved the families and pulled them out of the crowd. Thanks to the timely action taken by Sargodha Police, I was saved from a major tragedy."
"The situation in the city is completely peaceful and under control," it said.
It said the injured Christian Nazir has been shifted to the Combine Military Hospital in Sargodha for treatment.Police said that if Nazir is found guilty of insulting a religious text, a case will be registered against him.
Punjab Police said that currently more than 2,000 policemen have been deployed in Sargodha Mujahid Colony to maintain law and order.
On Saturday, several video clips of mob attacks on Christian community properties were circulating on social media.
Nazir Masih's relative Ifran Gil Masih told that his uncle had returned from Dubai after four years.
He said that some people of the area falsely accused him of insulting the holy book.He said Christian families saved their lives by locking themselves inside their homes as the mob moved towards them. He said that the atmosphere in the area is tense and Christians are scared.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it is seriously concerned by the emerging situation in Sargodha, where the Christian community in Gilwala village is reportedly facing serious threat to their lives at the hands of the mob.
Last year, at least 24 Christian churches and more than 80 houses in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad district, about 130 km from the provincial capital, were burnt by a mob angry over reports of two Christians insulting the Quran.