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India lodges protest with Pak over Hindu temple demolition

Over 30 people, mostly members of a radical Islamist party, arrested

NEW DELHI: India has lodged strong protest over the demolition of a Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Officials said concerns were conveyed to Pakistan through diplomatic channels. Over 30 people, mostly members of a radical Islamist party, were arrested after the Hindu temple was vandalised and set on fire by a mob protesting against its expansion work in northwest Pakistan.

The attack on the temple in Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district on Wednesday also drew strong condemnation from human rights activists and Hindu community leaders. On Thursday, the provincial government ordered authorities to reconstruct the damaged temple as it vowed to bring the culprits to justice.

The temple was attacked by the mob after members of the Hindu community received permission from local authorities to renovate its decades-old building, according to witnesses. The mob, led by a local cleric and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party (Fazal ur Rehman group), demolished the newly constructed work alongside the old structure, they said.

According to local police, they arrested more than 30 people, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Rehmat Salam Khattak, in overnight raids. Over 350 people have been named in the FIR, Provincial Police Chief KPK Sanaullah Abbasi has said. Abbasi said all the sections of law relating to terrorism have been included in the FIR against the accused. The police will ensure protection to worship places of minorities in the province, he added.

AFP reports that the temple will be rebuilt using provincial government funds. "We regret the damage caused by the attack," said Kamran Bangash, the provincial information minister. "The chief minister has ordered the reconstruction of the temple and adjoining house," he said. Construction will start as soon as possible with the support of the Hindu community, he said, adding security would be provided at the site.

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