In July 2021, hundreds of people attacked the Ganesh temple in Bhong town, about 590 km from Lahore
In July 2021, hundreds of people attacked the Ganesh temple in Bhong town, about 590 km from Lahore
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Pakistan on Wednesday sentenced 22 people to five years in jail for attacking a Hindu temple in Punjab province last year.
In July 2021, hundreds of people attacked the Ganesh Mandir temple in Bhong town of Rahim Yar Khan district, about 590 km from Lahore, in reaction to the alleged desecration of a Muslim madrasa by an eight-year-old Hindu boy.
The angry mob attacked the policemen stationed in the temple carrying weapons, sticks and bamboo and ransacked a part of the temple and burnt it. The attackers also damaged statues, walls, doors and electrical fittings, desecrating the temple.
The trial of the 84 arrested suspects, which began last September, ended last week.
“On Wednesday, ATC judge (Bahawalpur) Nasir Hussain delivered the verdict. The judge sentenced 22 suspects to five years each, while the remaining 62 were acquitted, giving them the benefit of the doubt.
All the suspects were brought to the court amidst tight security from the new Central Jail Bahawalpur before the judge pronounced the verdict.
The court sentenced 22 accused after the prosecution produced relevant evidence in the form of footage and testified against the witnesses, the official said.
The government had earlier collected compensation of over 1 million PKR ($5,300) from the suspects on the orders of the top court.
Later the temple was renovated on the orders of the Supreme Court.
Then Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed expressed regret that the vandalism at the Ganesh temple had put the country to shame as the police acted like mute spectators.
“Imagine how much mental agony the members of the Hindu community were caused by the desecration incident,” the CJI said.
The Parliament of Pakistan also passed a resolution condemning the temple attack.