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3 clusters · 22 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

Hindu temple demolition in Pakistan

Overview

A century-old Hindu temple in the Siraj village of Narowal district, Punjab, Pakistan, was destroyed on August 21. The structure, estimated to be between 100 and 125 years old and occupying approximately 1,000 square meters, has become the center of a dispute between religious minority groups and government officials.

Members of the Pakistan Masiha Millat Party (PMMP) and local Hindu leaders allege that extremists associated with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) deliberately demolished the temple to seize its land for an adjacent madrasa. PMMP Chairman Aslam Parvez Sahotra reported that metal fittings and bricks were removed from the site following the incident and has formally requested the Punjab government to rebuild the structure.

Conversely, officials from the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) denied intentional demolition, stating the ancient structure collapsed due to heavy rainfall. The ETPB noted that while the adjacent land had been leased for a madrasa, that lease was canceled due to unpaid rent and failure to use the property for its intended purpose.

The incident has escalated diplomatic tensions. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemned the destruction as a ‘reprehensible act of vandalism’ against a historic minority place of worship. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called for a prompt and transparent investigation by the Pakistani government to ensure accountability and demanded immediate measures to restore the temple.

Entities

Evacuee Trust Property Board · Pakistan Masiha Millat Party · Narowal · Ministry of External Affairs of India · Pakistan

Timeline

  1. 11 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 8 sources
    India condemns demolition of historic Hindu temple in Pakistan

    India has condemned the demolition of a century-old Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Narowal district, calling it a ‘reprehensible act of vandalism’ and demanding a transparent investigation.

  2. 11 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Hindu temple demolition in Pakistan sparks protests in Jammu

    The Rashtriya Bajrang Dal protested in Jammu against the demolition of a century-old Hindu temple in Pakistan, amid conflicting reports of whether the site was razed for expansion or collapsed due to rain.

  3. 13 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 13 sources
    Hindu temple in Pakistan's Punjab province demolished

    A 100-to-125-year-old Hindu temple in Pakistan's Punjab province was destroyed, with minority groups alleging extremist demolition for land seizure while officials claim heavy rains caused the collapse.

Sources

aajtak.com · centreline.com.pk · connectedtoindia.com · dailytimes.com.pk · desitalkchicago.com · disabledperson.com · dnaindia.com · enavabharat.com · hindi.asianetnews.com · hindi.news18.com · kannada.asianetnews.com · loktej.com · news18.com · news9live.com · newsable.asianetnews.com · newslaundry.com · newsmobile.in · sentinelassam.com · southasiandaily.com · thecsrjournal.in · tv9hindi.com · zoomnews.in

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history