KARACHI: Pakistan's minority Hindus protested outside
Balochistan provincial assembly in Quetta against
increasing incidents of abduction of community members
for ransom in the province, close on the heels of a young
trader's murder after his family failed to pay money to his
kidnappers.
The Hindus staged the protest yesterday after marching
through different parts of the city, a month after organising
similar rallies in Sindh following the killing of three Hindu
doctors in Shikarpur district there.
"We are fed up with the increasing incidents of kidnapping
for ransom of our community members and the shameful
thing is the authorities don't cooperate or listen to our
woes," Mohan Chand, a member of the local Hindu
Panchayat, said.
Balochistan provincial assembly in Quetta against
increasing incidents of abduction of community members
for ransom in the province, close on the heels of a young
trader's murder after his family failed to pay money to his
kidnappers.
The Hindus staged the protest yesterday after marching
through different parts of the city, a month after organising
similar rallies in Sindh following the killing of three Hindu
doctors in Shikarpur district there.
"We are fed up with the increasing incidents of kidnapping
for ransom of our community members and the shameful
thing is the authorities don't cooperate or listen to our
woes," Mohan Chand, a member of the local Hindu
Panchayat, said.
Hindus protest in Pak against
kidnappings for ransom
kidnappings for ransom
| Provincial Minister Zamrukh Achakzai speaks to Media and to Protesting Hindu community members in front of Balochistan Assembly. Photo Dunya. |
The protesters in the city, including children, carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans demanding protection from criminals.
The Hindus' protest in Balochistan came after the killing of Ravi Kumar, a young trader whose bullet-riddled body was found in Quetta after
his family failed to pay the ransom money to his abductors.
The members of the Hindu community raised slogans against the government for its failure to protect the minority communities.
Provincial Minister for Minorities Basant Lal Gulshan and Minister for Revenue Zamurkh Khan Achakzai addressed the protesting Hindus
and tried to pacify them.
Achakzai said the law enforcing agencies were constantly striving against the kidnapping gangs operating in Quetta and other parts of the
province.
"Police have booked many suspects and also carrying out raids in different localities, including Saryab and Pashtunabad areas of Quetta.
Soon, the criminals will be brought to book," he ensured.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/hindus-protest-in-pak-against-kidnappings-for-ransom/articleshow/11231264.cms
Pessimism rides high in Hindu community after
kidnappings
By Shehzad Baloch
December 24, 2011
Ravi Kumar is just one of many from the minority group, who have become targets. DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD
QUETTA:
The recovery of another bullet-riddled body of a young Hindu trader in Balochistan has visibly shaken the confidence of the community
which is an indelible part of the province’s culture and contributes substantially to its economy.
The unfortunate 26-year-old Ravi Kumar was loading trucks with flour in Satellite Town on October 22 when a group of armed men
kidnapped him in broad daylight.
The kidnappers demanded Rs4 million in ransom for his release afterwards which meant that he remained in captivity for over two months.
After negotiations, the abductors agreed to have Rs1 million as ransom money. However, negotiations did not bear any fruit since on
December 13, it was only Kumar’s body which turned up in Satellite Town. Ravi’s family wanted to march along with the dead body towards
the chief minister’s house or the press club in order to register their protest.
However, the community suddenly withdrew their decision out of fear that it might spark religious conflicts in a province already marred by
ethnic and linguistic tensions.
“Police did not fully cooperate with us when Ravi was abducted,” stresses Ravi’s father, Kalyan Das.
He breaks into tears whenever his son’s name comes on his lips and is unable to narrate the macabre tale.
He is helped along the way by Ravi’s uncle, Dr Maher Chand, who speaks of the community’s marginalisation where their way of
life seems to have come under threat.
According to Maher, as many as 100 people belonging to the Hindu community have so far been kidnapped during the past three years in
the province.
Some of these victims returned safely to their homes after paying huge sums of money to their kidnappers. But many were not that fortunate.
“The killings have sent a clear message that we should pay ransom if we want to survive in Balochistan,” Dr Chand tells The Express
Tribune.
‘Soft targets’
Despite being a part of the government, Provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Basant Lal Gulshan also seems
dissatisfied with the treatment being meted out to the Hindu community in Balochistan.
“Hindu people are soft targets and kidnapping gangs have come to believe that they can easily get ransom money from Hindu families since
they form a minority,” he laments.
However, his determination to stay on and fight for the rights of Baloch Hindus, has not flagged.
“Hindus are real sons of the soil of this region and we will not leave Balochistan at any cost. We love Pakistan and have as much rights on it
as any Muslim citizen,” Gulshan adds, with emotion manifest in his tone.
According to estimates of Hindu community itself, over 200,000 Hindu people are residing in different parts of Balochistan and most of them
are traders, shopkeepers and contributing substantially to the local economy.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2011.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/311250/pessimism-rides-high-in-hindu-community-after-kidnappings/
Sit-in outside BA against Hindu trader’s killing
* Protesters demand resignation from authorities concerned
QUETTA: Hindu community staged a sit-in protest in front of the Balochistan Assembly on Friday, against the killing of Hindu trader Ravi
Kumar. The rally from Arya Samaj Mandir passed through different parts of the provincial capital. The atmosphere was fully charged as the
protesters were holding banners and placards and chanted slogans against the rising incidents of target killings and kidnapping for ransom
in the area. They demanded that the authorities concerned must resign, saying they are unable to provide security to the Hindus.
Hindu leaders Raday Sham and Dr Mhar Chand while addressing the protesters, said Hindu community have been residing in Balochistan
for the past many centuries and had been targeted for the past couple of years. The kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative
business and Hindu community has become a soft target for the criminals. They killed five Hindu traders that had gone unnoticed. The
killings are a clear message that Hindus must pay money to criminals if they want to live here, they said, adding that the elected people and
tribal elders are not playing their due role.
They said it is a conspiracy to force the Hindu community to migrate from Balochistan. “We shall give a clear message to those elements
that we are the indigenous people of this region. We will not leave this land at any cost,” they added. Provincial Ministers Zamaruk Khan
Achakzai and Basant Lal Gulshan came to the protesters and condemned the killing of trader Ravi Kumar.
They assured them of proper help and said that, “we will raise the voice of Hindu community on the assembly floor.” They said civil society,
and tribal elders will play their due rule in this issue. They advised the Hindu community to make a committee so that they can meet the
Balochistan chief minister after his return from Islamabad.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\12\24\story_24-12-2011_pg7_15
Hindus in Pak rally against increasing kidnappings for ransom
Islamabad, Dec 24 : The Hindu community in Pakistan staged a protest outside the assembly in Balochistan province, Quetta city, against
unabated incidents of kidnappings for ransom.
The protestors took out a procession from Arya Samaj temple and marched through different parts of the city to express their anger against
the recent killing of a Hindu trader Ravi Kumar.
The community demanded that the authorities concerned must resign, saying they are unable to provide security to the Hindus, The Daily
Times reports.
Hindu leaders Raday Sham and Dr Mhar Chand while addressing the protesters, said Hindu community have been residing in Balochistan
for the past many centuries and had been targeted for the past couple of years.
They pointed out that the killings are a clear message that Hindus must pay money to criminals if they want to live in the city.
“They said it is a conspiracy to force the Hindu community to migrate from Balochistan. We shall give a clear message to those elements
that we are the indigenous people of this region. We will not leave this land at any cost,” they added.
Provincial Ministers Zamaruk Khan Achakzai and Basant Lal Gulshan came to the protesters, and assured the Hindu community of proper
help, saying that they “will raise the voice of the community on the assembly floor.” (ANI)
http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-133214.html
Sit-in outside BA against Hindu trader’s killing
* Protesters demand resignation from authorities concerned
QUETTA: Hindu community staged a sit-in protest in front of the Balochistan Assembly on Friday, against the killing of Hindu trader Ravi
Kumar. The rally from Arya Samaj Mandir passed through different parts of the provincial capital. The atmosphere was fully charged as the
protesters were holding banners and placards and chanted slogans against the rising incidents of target killings and kidnapping for ransom
in the area. They demanded that the authorities concerned must resign, saying they are unable to provide security to the Hindus.
Hindu leaders Raday Sham and Dr Mhar Chand while addressing the protesters, said Hindu community have been residing in Balochistan
for the past many centuries and had been targeted for the past couple of years. The kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative
business and Hindu community has become a soft target for the criminals. They killed five Hindu traders that had gone unnoticed. The
killings are a clear message that Hindus must pay money to criminals if they want to live here, they said, adding that the elected people and
tribal elders are not playing their due role.
They said it is a conspiracy to force the Hindu community to migrate from Balochistan. “We shall give a clear message to those elements
that we are the indigenous people of this region. We will not leave this land at any cost,” they added. Provincial Ministers Zamaruk Khan
Achakzai and Basant Lal Gulshan came to the protesters and condemned the killing of trader Ravi Kumar.
They assured them of proper help and said that, “we will raise the voice of Hindu community on the assembly floor.” They said civil society,
and tribal elders will play their due rule in this issue. They advised the Hindu community to make a committee so that they can meet the
Balochistan chief minister after his return from Islamabad.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\12\24\story_24-12-2011_pg7_15
Quetta's Hindus demand govt to protect them
from kidnappers, killers
December 23, 2011
Members of the Hindu community raised slogans against the government for its failure to protect minorities. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ QAZI
USMAN/ FILE
QUETTA: Members of the Hindu community staged a protest demonstration in front of the Balochistan Assembly (BA) on Friday against
increasing incidents of kidnapping for ransom in the province.
The protestors took out a procession from Arya Samaj temple on Masjid Road and after marching through different parts of the city, staged
a protest demonstration in front of the BA building.
The protesting people, including children, were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans demanding protection from criminals.
Addressing the protestors, Raday Sham and Dr Maher Chand, members of Hindu Panchayat, said police should investigate the killing of
young Hindu trader Ravi Kumar, whose bullet-riddled body was found in Quetta after his family failed to pay the ransom money to his
abductors.
The members of the Hindu community raised slogans against the government for its failure to protect the life of those belonging to minority
communities.
Provincial minister for minorities Basant Lal Gulshan and Minister for Revenue Zamurkh Khan Achakzai addressed the protesting Hindu
community members and tried to pacify them.
Achakzai said that the law enforcing agencies were constantly striving against the kidnapping gangs operating in Quetta and other parts of
the province.
“Police have booked many suspects and also carrying out raids in different localities including Saryab and Pashtunabad areas of Quetta.
Soon, the criminals will be brought to book,” he ensured.
The protestors called off their protest after the provincial minster assured them that he will arrange a meeting between a delegation of Hindu
community and Chief Minister, to resolve the issues.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/310988/quettas-hindus-demand-govt-to-protect-them-from-kidnappers-killers/
Balochistan: Hindu trader killing sparks protest
Friday, December 23, 2011
Islamabad: A Hindu trader, who was kidnapped nearly three months ago, has been killed leading to community members staging a
demonstration outside the assembly in Balochistan province of southwest Pakistan on Friday.
The Hindu Panchayat organised the protest outside the provincial assembly in Quetta.
Leaders of the Hindu community said armed gangs had been kidnapping Hindu traders and youths for ransom and killing them if ransom
was not paid.
They demanded that the government should provide security and protection to Hindus.
Last week, several provincial ministers had assured the Hindu community that trader Ravi Kumar's killers would be brought to justice.
They made the assurance while speaking in the Balochistan Assembly on December 15.
Provincial minister Jay Prakash said Ravi Kumar was abducted by armed men from the bus terminal in Quetta about 90 days ago.
The abductors killed him after his family could not pay the ransom that had been demanded, Prakash said. However, it was not known when
exactly he was killed.
Dozens of Hindus have been kidnapped for ransom in Balochistan over the past two years.
Several Hindu families from the province have applied for asylum in India.
http://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/balochistan-hindu-trader-killing-sparks-protest_748378.html
Comments
Prithvi - Quetta
We are Living in Balochistan for thousands of year. The Community has Played a vital role in the Economic Development of Balochistan as
95%of Hindu Community is related to the Trade Business. Hindus are the most peaceful people of Pakistan. But After the Death of Nawab
Mohammad Akber khan Bugti,Hindus of Balochistan are feeling like Orphans as Nawab protected them from criminals till his last breath.
Hindus are living a miserable life in Pakistan these days. Hundreds of hindus have been kidnapped in last 4 years most of them were
released after paying all the money they have earned for their whole lives. While other hundreds of Hindus are Forced to pay Extortion
money to live here .Many Hindu families are Migrating to INDIA for the sake of their children,s life. The Tribal system which protected the
Hindus in past years has been weaken due to the recently developed situation in Balochistan by the security forces resulting the
Unbearable conditions for Hindus. We have stopped our children from going to schools and its nearly impossible for us to run our
businesses are we are continuously being targeting by the Kidnappers. And the most miserable thing is that there is no one to help. Even
police suggest us to pay Ransom and Get our Detainee released as Kidnapper have close links to provincial Ministers as stated by many
politicians and political parties. Now the only way left for is to Migrate somewhere else from Pakistan and seek Refuge.
Reply
Avinash Kumar - Quetta
Hindu Community is the oldest Community living in Balochistan For Hundreds of Years. About 95 % of the community is affiliated with Trade
Business.
The Hindus' protest in Balochistan came after the killing of Ravi Kumar, a young trader whose bullet-riddled body was found in Quetta after
his family failed to pay the ransom money to his abductors.
The members of the Hindu community raised slogans against the government for its failure to protect the minority communities.
Provincial Minister for Minorities Basant Lal Gulshan and Minister for Revenue Zamurkh Khan Achakzai addressed the protesting Hindus
and tried to pacify them.
Achakzai said the law enforcing agencies were constantly striving against the kidnapping gangs operating in Quetta and other parts of the
province.
"Police have booked many suspects and also carrying out raids in different localities, including Saryab and Pashtunabad areas of Quetta.
Soon, the criminals will be brought to book," he ensured.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/hindus-protest-in-pak-against-kidnappings-for-ransom/articleshow/11231264.cms
Pessimism rides high in Hindu community after
kidnappings
By Shehzad Baloch
December 24, 2011
Ravi Kumar is just one of many from the minority group, who have become targets. DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD
QUETTA:
The recovery of another bullet-riddled body of a young Hindu trader in Balochistan has visibly shaken the confidence of the community
which is an indelible part of the province’s culture and contributes substantially to its economy.
The unfortunate 26-year-old Ravi Kumar was loading trucks with flour in Satellite Town on October 22 when a group of armed men
kidnapped him in broad daylight.
The kidnappers demanded Rs4 million in ransom for his release afterwards which meant that he remained in captivity for over two months.
After negotiations, the abductors agreed to have Rs1 million as ransom money. However, negotiations did not bear any fruit since on
December 13, it was only Kumar’s body which turned up in Satellite Town. Ravi’s family wanted to march along with the dead body towards
the chief minister’s house or the press club in order to register their protest.
However, the community suddenly withdrew their decision out of fear that it might spark religious conflicts in a province already marred by
ethnic and linguistic tensions.
“Police did not fully cooperate with us when Ravi was abducted,” stresses Ravi’s father, Kalyan Das.
He breaks into tears whenever his son’s name comes on his lips and is unable to narrate the macabre tale.
He is helped along the way by Ravi’s uncle, Dr Maher Chand, who speaks of the community’s marginalisation where their way of
life seems to have come under threat.
According to Maher, as many as 100 people belonging to the Hindu community have so far been kidnapped during the past three years in
the province.
Some of these victims returned safely to their homes after paying huge sums of money to their kidnappers. But many were not that fortunate.
“The killings have sent a clear message that we should pay ransom if we want to survive in Balochistan,” Dr Chand tells The Express
Tribune.
‘Soft targets’
Despite being a part of the government, Provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Basant Lal Gulshan also seems
dissatisfied with the treatment being meted out to the Hindu community in Balochistan.
“Hindu people are soft targets and kidnapping gangs have come to believe that they can easily get ransom money from Hindu families since
they form a minority,” he laments.
However, his determination to stay on and fight for the rights of Baloch Hindus, has not flagged.
“Hindus are real sons of the soil of this region and we will not leave Balochistan at any cost. We love Pakistan and have as much rights on it
as any Muslim citizen,” Gulshan adds, with emotion manifest in his tone.
According to estimates of Hindu community itself, over 200,000 Hindu people are residing in different parts of Balochistan and most of them
are traders, shopkeepers and contributing substantially to the local economy.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2011.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/311250/pessimism-rides-high-in-hindu-community-after-kidnappings/
Sit-in outside BA against Hindu trader’s killing
* Protesters demand resignation from authorities concerned
QUETTA: Hindu community staged a sit-in protest in front of the Balochistan Assembly on Friday, against the killing of Hindu trader Ravi
Kumar. The rally from Arya Samaj Mandir passed through different parts of the provincial capital. The atmosphere was fully charged as the
protesters were holding banners and placards and chanted slogans against the rising incidents of target killings and kidnapping for ransom
in the area. They demanded that the authorities concerned must resign, saying they are unable to provide security to the Hindus.
Hindu leaders Raday Sham and Dr Mhar Chand while addressing the protesters, said Hindu community have been residing in Balochistan
for the past many centuries and had been targeted for the past couple of years. The kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative
business and Hindu community has become a soft target for the criminals. They killed five Hindu traders that had gone unnoticed. The
killings are a clear message that Hindus must pay money to criminals if they want to live here, they said, adding that the elected people and
tribal elders are not playing their due role.
They said it is a conspiracy to force the Hindu community to migrate from Balochistan. “We shall give a clear message to those elements
that we are the indigenous people of this region. We will not leave this land at any cost,” they added. Provincial Ministers Zamaruk Khan
Achakzai and Basant Lal Gulshan came to the protesters and condemned the killing of trader Ravi Kumar.
They assured them of proper help and said that, “we will raise the voice of Hindu community on the assembly floor.” They said civil society,
and tribal elders will play their due rule in this issue. They advised the Hindu community to make a committee so that they can meet the
Balochistan chief minister after his return from Islamabad.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\12\24\story_24-12-2011_pg7_15
Hindus in Pak rally against increasing kidnappings for ransom
Islamabad, Dec 24 : The Hindu community in Pakistan staged a protest outside the assembly in Balochistan province, Quetta city, against
unabated incidents of kidnappings for ransom.
The protestors took out a procession from Arya Samaj temple and marched through different parts of the city to express their anger against
the recent killing of a Hindu trader Ravi Kumar.
The community demanded that the authorities concerned must resign, saying they are unable to provide security to the Hindus, The Daily
Times reports.
Hindu leaders Raday Sham and Dr Mhar Chand while addressing the protesters, said Hindu community have been residing in Balochistan
for the past many centuries and had been targeted for the past couple of years.
They pointed out that the killings are a clear message that Hindus must pay money to criminals if they want to live in the city.
“They said it is a conspiracy to force the Hindu community to migrate from Balochistan. We shall give a clear message to those elements
that we are the indigenous people of this region. We will not leave this land at any cost,” they added.
Provincial Ministers Zamaruk Khan Achakzai and Basant Lal Gulshan came to the protesters, and assured the Hindu community of proper
help, saying that they “will raise the voice of the community on the assembly floor.” (ANI)
http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-133214.html
Sit-in outside BA against Hindu trader’s killing
* Protesters demand resignation from authorities concerned
QUETTA: Hindu community staged a sit-in protest in front of the Balochistan Assembly on Friday, against the killing of Hindu trader Ravi
Kumar. The rally from Arya Samaj Mandir passed through different parts of the provincial capital. The atmosphere was fully charged as the
protesters were holding banners and placards and chanted slogans against the rising incidents of target killings and kidnapping for ransom
in the area. They demanded that the authorities concerned must resign, saying they are unable to provide security to the Hindus.
Hindu leaders Raday Sham and Dr Mhar Chand while addressing the protesters, said Hindu community have been residing in Balochistan
for the past many centuries and had been targeted for the past couple of years. The kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative
business and Hindu community has become a soft target for the criminals. They killed five Hindu traders that had gone unnoticed. The
killings are a clear message that Hindus must pay money to criminals if they want to live here, they said, adding that the elected people and
tribal elders are not playing their due role.
They said it is a conspiracy to force the Hindu community to migrate from Balochistan. “We shall give a clear message to those elements
that we are the indigenous people of this region. We will not leave this land at any cost,” they added. Provincial Ministers Zamaruk Khan
Achakzai and Basant Lal Gulshan came to the protesters and condemned the killing of trader Ravi Kumar.
They assured them of proper help and said that, “we will raise the voice of Hindu community on the assembly floor.” They said civil society,
and tribal elders will play their due rule in this issue. They advised the Hindu community to make a committee so that they can meet the
Balochistan chief minister after his return from Islamabad.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\12\24\story_24-12-2011_pg7_15
Quetta's Hindus demand govt to protect them
from kidnappers, killers
December 23, 2011
Members of the Hindu community raised slogans against the government for its failure to protect minorities. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ QAZI
USMAN/ FILE
QUETTA: Members of the Hindu community staged a protest demonstration in front of the Balochistan Assembly (BA) on Friday against
increasing incidents of kidnapping for ransom in the province.
The protestors took out a procession from Arya Samaj temple on Masjid Road and after marching through different parts of the city, staged
a protest demonstration in front of the BA building.
The protesting people, including children, were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans demanding protection from criminals.
Addressing the protestors, Raday Sham and Dr Maher Chand, members of Hindu Panchayat, said police should investigate the killing of
young Hindu trader Ravi Kumar, whose bullet-riddled body was found in Quetta after his family failed to pay the ransom money to his
abductors.
The members of the Hindu community raised slogans against the government for its failure to protect the life of those belonging to minority
communities.
Provincial minister for minorities Basant Lal Gulshan and Minister for Revenue Zamurkh Khan Achakzai addressed the protesting Hindu
community members and tried to pacify them.
Achakzai said that the law enforcing agencies were constantly striving against the kidnapping gangs operating in Quetta and other parts of
the province.
“Police have booked many suspects and also carrying out raids in different localities including Saryab and Pashtunabad areas of Quetta.
Soon, the criminals will be brought to book,” he ensured.
The protestors called off their protest after the provincial minster assured them that he will arrange a meeting between a delegation of Hindu
community and Chief Minister, to resolve the issues.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/310988/quettas-hindus-demand-govt-to-protect-them-from-kidnappers-killers/
Balochistan: Hindu trader killing sparks protest
Friday, December 23, 2011
Islamabad: A Hindu trader, who was kidnapped nearly three months ago, has been killed leading to community members staging a
demonstration outside the assembly in Balochistan province of southwest Pakistan on Friday.
The Hindu Panchayat organised the protest outside the provincial assembly in Quetta.
Leaders of the Hindu community said armed gangs had been kidnapping Hindu traders and youths for ransom and killing them if ransom
was not paid.
They demanded that the government should provide security and protection to Hindus.
Last week, several provincial ministers had assured the Hindu community that trader Ravi Kumar's killers would be brought to justice.
They made the assurance while speaking in the Balochistan Assembly on December 15.
Provincial minister Jay Prakash said Ravi Kumar was abducted by armed men from the bus terminal in Quetta about 90 days ago.
The abductors killed him after his family could not pay the ransom that had been demanded, Prakash said. However, it was not known when
exactly he was killed.
Dozens of Hindus have been kidnapped for ransom in Balochistan over the past two years.
Several Hindu families from the province have applied for asylum in India.
http://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/balochistan-hindu-trader-killing-sparks-protest_748378.html
Comments
Prithvi - Quetta
We are Living in Balochistan for thousands of year. The Community has Played a vital role in the Economic Development of Balochistan as
95%of Hindu Community is related to the Trade Business. Hindus are the most peaceful people of Pakistan. But After the Death of Nawab
Mohammad Akber khan Bugti,Hindus of Balochistan are feeling like Orphans as Nawab protected them from criminals till his last breath.
Hindus are living a miserable life in Pakistan these days. Hundreds of hindus have been kidnapped in last 4 years most of them were
released after paying all the money they have earned for their whole lives. While other hundreds of Hindus are Forced to pay Extortion
money to live here .Many Hindu families are Migrating to INDIA for the sake of their children,s life. The Tribal system which protected the
Hindus in past years has been weaken due to the recently developed situation in Balochistan by the security forces resulting the
Unbearable conditions for Hindus. We have stopped our children from going to schools and its nearly impossible for us to run our
businesses are we are continuously being targeting by the Kidnappers. And the most miserable thing is that there is no one to help. Even
police suggest us to pay Ransom and Get our Detainee released as Kidnapper have close links to provincial Ministers as stated by many
politicians and political parties. Now the only way left for is to Migrate somewhere else from Pakistan and seek Refuge.
Reply
Avinash Kumar - Quetta
Hindu Community is the oldest Community living in Balochistan For Hundreds of Years. About 95 % of the community is affiliated with Trade
Business.
| Hindus in Pakistan: An endangered minority |
December 25, 2011
There is no evidence that the provincial government has been complicit in this assault on Hindus but it is surely guilty of negligence. PHOTO: PPI
Given the scope of problems facing the people of Balochistan, from a security establishment that abducts at will anyone it considers a threat to
chronic underdevelopment, the plight of the Hindu community in the province has not been given the attention it deserves. Estimated to number
about 200,000, Hindus in Balochistan have been the victims of a campaign of kidnappings and killings that is causing them to flee the province
en masse. The most recent incident involved the killing of a young Hindu trader, Ravi Kumar, after his family could not rustle up the one-million-
rupee ransom that his kidnappers had demanded. The Hindu community is alive to the threat it faces and has taken out a protest in front of the
Balochistan Assembly demanding protection from the government. It is now time that the authorities start to treat the problem with some amount
of seriousness.
A report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in September of this year, revealed that over 50 members of the Hindu
community have been kidnapped for ransom in the last three years, many of whom have been killed if the money is not paid. There is no
evidence that the provincial government has been complicit in this assault on Hindus but it is surely guilty of negligence. According to the report,
families of victims are fearful of reporting the crimes to the police because they have no confidence in the authorities and rather are fearful that it
will only make it harder to recover their loved ones. So fraught is the situation that more than 100 Hindu families have migrated from Balochistan
and are seeking refuge in other countries.
What makes the crimes against the Hindu community even more disturbing is that Balochistan has a rich Hindu heritage and, until recently, was
thought to be a more hospitable environment for the community than anywhere else in the country. Hindu pilgrims from India make the annual
trek to the Makran coast for a four-day ritual at the Hinglaj Mata temple, where Hindus believe that the head of their goddess Sati had fallen, and
these pilgrimages have been taking place for decades without incident. But as more Hindus flee Balochistan, the province’s Hindu heritage is
sure to suffer from neglect and a lack of interest.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2011.
SOURCE: http://tribune.com.pk/story/311416/an-endangered-minority/