Sikh couple killed in Mardan. Terrorism investigation launched
Husband and wife, caretakers of a gurdwara, were ambushed and shot dead. Investigators have not ruled out a religiously motivated murder. Concern amongst the Sikh and Hindu minority communities. Fr Shakeel Gulzar: an attack on peace, religious harmony and humanity.
Mardan (AsiaNews) – A Sikh couple, who served as caretakers at a gurdwara in Mardan, were shot dead on Wednesday by unidentified assailants in an ambush that has sparked fear and outrage amongst religious minority communities and prompted the authorities to launch a terrorism investigation.
The victims, identified as Jagannath, 70, and his wife, lived on the premises of the historic gurdwara in Baboo Mohallam, Mardan, some 60 km north-west of Peshawar. The couple had reportedly been looking after the place of worship for several years, overseeing its upkeep and security.
According to the police, armed assailants entered the gurdwara and opened fire on the couple before fleeing. The attack resulted in the immediate deaths of both elderly people. Residents immediately alerted the authorities, ensuring a swift response from the police and emergency services.
A medical team from the Rescue 1122 service arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and transferred the bodies to the hospital at Mardan District Headquarters for post-mortem examinations and legal formalities. Security forces cordoned off the area whilst forensic experts and investigators gathered evidence from the crime scene.
Police officials stated that an investigation has been launched to determine the motive behind the attack and identify those responsible. Preliminary investigations are not ruling out any leads, including the possibility of religiously motivated violence, although the authorities have not yet announced any conclusions.
The murder has caused great concern amongst Pakistan’s Sikh and Hindu communities, who have called for the immediate arrest of those responsible and for security measures at places of worship for minority groups to be stepped up. Members of the communities have described the tragic incident as a shocking attack on a peaceful religious institution and have called for swift justice.
Senior government and police officials visited the crime scene to oversee the investigation. Suresh Kumar, the MP for minority affairs, district police officer Masood Bangash and Superintendent of Police Maria Mustafa, who is leading the investigation, were among those who monitored the collection of evidence and received updates from the investigators.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station against unidentified suspects. The complaint was lodged by Amarjeet Lal, the brother-in-law of the deceased caretaker. The police have confirmed that the report includes charges of murder, as well as provisions under anti-terrorism laws. The inclusion of terrorism charges will enable investigators to draw on additional resources and specialised procedures in pursuing the case. At the time of writing, no arrests have been made.
The murders have drawn condemnation from religious leaders, human rights defenders and civil society organisations across Pakistan. Reverend Father Shakeel Gulzar, director of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Karachi, strongly condemned the attack and urged the authorities to take decisive action against those responsible. He described the Sikh community as peaceful and law-abiding and stated that the murder of a couple dedicated to looking after a place of worship constitutes an attack on peace, religious harmony and humanity itself.
Social and peace activist Simon Shamaun Masih also condemned the incident, describing it as a senseless act of violence that threatens interfaith harmony and religious freedom. He stated that the attack had sown fear amongst vulnerable communities and raised serious concerns regarding the security of places of worship belonging to religious minorities.
The incident has once again highlighted the difficulties faced by minority communities in Pakistan and has reignited calls for greater protection of places of worship. Community leaders and human rights activists have urged the government to ensure a transparent investigation, to bring those responsible to justice and to take concrete measures to safeguard all citizens, regardless of their faith.
In an interview with AsiaNews, Kashif Aslam, a human rights activist, said: “I am deeply saddened and shocked. The Sikh community is known for its peaceful and non-violent traditions, which makes such a brutal attack all the more tragic and alarming. Violence against religious minorities has no place in our society and only serves to heighten the sense of fear and insecurity.” Whilst investigators continue their enquiries, members of the Sikh community and local residents are awaiting answers regarding the motive behind the murders and hope that those responsible will soon be brought to justice.
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