Evoking a sharp reaction, India issues strong demarche to Pakistan on abduction of Hindu girl in Sindh

New Delhi, January 30: Stooping down low once again, Pakistan has exhibited its true colours where minorities are harassed, tortured by the unruly behaviour of people in Islamabad. In what comes as another shocker, a 24-year-old Hindu girl was allegedly abducted by armed assailants from her wedding ceremony in Pakistan’s Sindh province and forcibly converted to Islam before being married off to a Muslim man. This has evoked a sharp reaction from India, which demanded urgent action by Islamabad to protect the minority communities in the country.

India has summoned a senior official from the Pakistan High Commission and made a strong demarche against the abduction of the girl on January 25, with the help of local police in Hala city of Sindh province. The government also made a demarche against the desecration of Mata Rani Bhatiyani temple in Tharparkar Sindh province on January 26. The All Pakistan Hindu Council (APHC) on Sunday said Bharti Bai was abducted from her wedding ceremony last week from Hala town of Matiari district in Sindh province. She was then married off to a Muslim man, named Shahruk Gul, after forcibly converting her to Islam.

While describing the incidents as "despicable" and "heinous", the government has asked Pakistan to take immediate measures to expeditiously bring the perpetrators to justice. India asked the Pakistani government to investigate the two cases of persecution of the Hindu minority community members. Islamabad was also asked to take urgent action for protecting and promoting the security, safety and welfare of its citizens including the minority Hindu community.

Hindus, which comprise approximately 2 per cent of Pakistan’s population, are mainly concentrated in Sindh province. There have been periodic reports of their forced conversion to Islam.