Pakistani Hindus protest abduction of jeweller

Karachi: As Hindus across Pakistan celebrated Diwali with festivity, members of the minority community in a small town in Sindh province protested against the failure of authorities to trace a jeweller kidnapped two weeks ago.

The mood in Daharki town has been sombre and angry since Ravi Kumar was abducted by armed men while he was on his way home from Sukkur. Despite repeated protests and sit-ins by the Hindu community, police have failed to recover Kumar, The Express Tribune reported today. The protests continued during Diwali, which was celebrated over the weekend. Kumar, the son of Narain Das, often visits Sukkur in connection with his work. Around 16 days ago, he travelled there but never returned home. His family lost contact with him and his car was found abandoned in Khairpur district. Though leaders of the Hindu community immediately informed police, a case was registered only after senior officials took notice. The protesters, led by Daharki’s Hindu Panchayat president Mukhi Namo Mal, demanded the immediate recovery of Kumar. Namo Mal said Kumar was the only son of his parents and, since his kidnapping, his father had not uttered a word except to ask about Kumar’s whereabouts. Namo Mal, also a close relative of Kumar, said his abduction had marred the happiness associated with Diwali. The kidnapping of Hindu businessmen is not uncommon in Sindh. There have also been many cases of Hindu girls being forced to convert and marry, a phenomenon that has caused concern to the community. A majority of Pakistan`s Hindu community live in southern Sindh province.