Karachi

A Hindu temple in Karachi has been vandalized, causing fear and panic among members of the community living in this Pakistani city, a media report said on Thursday.

According to The Express Tribune report, the incident took place on Wednesday at the Shri Mari Mata temple in the city's Korangi area.

After receiving information about the vandalization, police reached the area, inspected the temple, and also deployed additional forces in the area.

Sanjeev, a Hindu resident of the area, told The Express Tribune that six to eight individuals on motorcycles came and attacked the temple.

"We don't know who has attacked and why," he said.

A minority rights group posted this on Twitter about the incident:

Just In: Last night another temple was attacked and vandalized in Sindh. Hanuman Temple in Korangi No. 5, #Karachi has been attacked by goons.
This is outrageous. #ProtectMinoritiesReligiousPlaces @gabeeno @bilalfqi @Xadeejournalist @a_siab @HRCP87 @sherryrehman pic.twitter.com/C2FlrgPK9g

— Voice of Pakistan Minority (@voice_minority) June 9, 2022

Korangi Station House Officer Farooq Sanjrani confirmed that "five to six unknown suspects entered the temple and escaped after vandalizing it".

He added that a case was registered against the unidentified assailants.

Hindu temples across Pakistan have often been vandalized. Last October, a historical temple located on the banks of the Indus River in Kotri was allegedly desecrated by unidentified people, The Express Tribune reported.

ALSO READ: Court defers order on plea for restoration of temples at Qutub Minar

In August 2021, dozens of people reportedly vandalized a Hindu temple in the town of Bhong and blocked the Sukkur-Multan Motorway after an eight-year-old Hindu boy, who allegedly urinated in a local seminary, was granted bail by a local court.