Karachi – In the remote hamlet of Rathi, close to Nagarparkar, a Hindu shrine was forcefully entered and defaced late Monday night. The temple’s caretaker awoke to find broken statues scattered across the sanctum and promptly alerted the local police.
Suspect placed in custody
Shiva Kaachi, head of the non‑governmental organization Pakistan Darawar Ittehad, confirmed that law enforcement has taken a man into custody, believing him to be the main offender. Neither the suspect’s name nor the exact circumstances of his arrest have been disclosed.
The temple’s place in a Hindu‑predominant region
Although modest in scale, the Mata Jog Maya Temple is one of numerous small worship sites scattered throughout the villages surrounding Nagarparkar, an area with a considerable Hindu population. These shrines act as focal points for prayer, festivals and community gatherings.
Ongoing investigation
Authorities are currently assessing the full extent of the vandalism and determining whether additional participants were involved. Investigators are collecting forensic evidence, questioning witnesses and mapping the sequence of events.
Similar attacks earlier this year
Earlier in the year, the Kali Mata Temple in Hyderabad’s Fateh Chowk district suffered a comparable act of vandalism, sparking protests and road blockades by Pakistan’s Hindu community. These repeated incidents have reignited worries about the protection of minority religious sites in Sindh.
