Temple Handed Over To Local Hindu Community In Pakistan After Repair; 50 Arrested For 'Shameful' Attack

India summoned the in-charge of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest with the incident over the freedom of the minority community in Pakistan.

Screnshot from video of the mob attack

New Delhi: Pakistan's authority handed over the Ganesh temple to the Hindu community at Pakistan's Punjab province after repair work. The authorities have also arrested 50 suspects from the mob, a government official said on Monday. District administrator Khurram Shahzad said that local Hindus could soon visit the temple. 

Hundreds of people had attacked the Hindu temple in Bhong city of the Rahim Yar Khan district about 590 kms from Lahore, on August 4th, in reaction to the court's release of an 8-year-old boy for allegedly desecrating a Muslim madrassa.

Pakistan's law enforcement has arrested more than 50 people and booked more than 150 people for attacking the temple. Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had reprimanded the authorities for their failure to protect the temple.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Gulzar Ahmed, on Friday, said that the incident was shameful for the country because the police remained mute spectators. Expressing surprise over the arrest of the eight-year-old, the Chief Justice had asked the police whether they could not understand the thought processes of an eight-year-old. The same day, Pakistan's Parliament passed a resolution condemning the attack. 

"The government has completed the restoration work of the temple and handed over to the local Hindu community," District Police Officer of Rahim Yar Khan Asad Sarfraz told PTI on Monday. He said it was ready for the worship as well. 

An official said the government has engaged workers from Hyderabad to make idols for the temple according to PTI. 

The hearing in the case has been adjourned till August 13.

On Thursday, India summoned Pakistan High Commission's in-charge, in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the incident & the freedom of the minority community in Pakistan. India protested against the increasing attacks on religious places. 

Hindus are the largest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, there are 7.5 million Hindus living in Pakistan. However, according to the community, there are more than 90 lakh Hindus living in the country. Most of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province, where they share culture, tradition, and language with the Muslim citizens.