Several Hindus kidnapped for ransom in Pakistan
Mr Santosh Kumar Bugti, a minority leader of Pakistan Muslim League-N, has sought early release of an abducted leading Hindu spiritual leader and said that several members of the Hindu community had been kidnapped for ransom.
Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Mr Bugti appealed to all tribal leaders and elders to play their role for Mr Lakki Chand Garji’s recovery.
Mr Lakki Chand Garji, 82, who is the ‘maharaja of the Kali Mata Mandir in Kalat town in Balochistan province, is considered to be one of Pakistan’s most revered Hindu spiritual leaders. He was kidnapped on December 21.
The Dawn reported on Thursday that leaders of the Hindu community, including Mr Dewan Chand, Mr Anil Kumar and Mr Bhajan Lal, attended the press conference.
Criticising the provincial government, Mr Bugti said that it had failed to protect the life and property of the people as kidnapping for ransom had become common.
He said that several members of the Hindu community had been kidnapped for ransom, with none of them being recovered by police.
The families of kidnapped people paid huge ransom to get their relatives freed, Mr Bugti was quoted as saying.
He said that shops and homes of the Hindu community had been robbed. They were facing kidnapping for ransom for a long time and they now felt insecure in their own province.
“No one has contacted (Garji’s) family and other people of the Hindu community so far,” said Mr Bugti.
Mr Lakki Chand Garji has been the maharaja at Kali Mata Mandir for the past 60 years and he has command on several languages including Balochi, Hindi, Sindhi, Persian and Brahavi.
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