Ram Leela Temple in Pakistan sealed after demolition attempt

Authorities in Pakistan have sealed the nearly 200-year-old Ram Leela Temple in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following protests by the Hindu community and civil society activists. The decision follows an attempt to demolish the historic structure in Rahim Bazaar to make way for a commercial plaza.

Local residents and members of the Dera Civil Society intervened earlier this week to halt demolition work after a contractor reportedly claimed to have been hired to tear down the building. In response to the unrest, the local administration took the temple into official custody, and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) subsequently sealed the site.

The temple is one of approximately 400 buildings in the district identified by the ETPB as cultural heritage properties. The ETPB is a government body responsible for managing properties left by those who migrated to India during the 1947 Partition, as well as assets held in trust for minority religious communities.

Community leaders and activists have called for an investigation into the legality of the proposed commercial construction and the ownership of the property. They have also urged elected officials to raise the matter in the National Assembly to ensure the protection of religious minority rights and historical heritage.