The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday summoned the concerned commissioner as well as the deputy commissioner in connection with the ransacking of a Hindu temple in Rahim Yar Khan around a week back, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The apex court had taken suo motu notice of the incident which had created resentment as well as a sense of insecurity in people belonging to the Hindu community.

The court also ordered action against the SHO who had put a Hindu child in lockup.

Besides that it ordered decision in the case within four months by conducting trial of the suspects arrested in connection with the case on a daily basis.

The court also directed the Punjab IGP to crackdown on dacoits in Bhong area in district Rahim Yar Khan in collaboration with the Punjab government.

Similarly, it directed that the offer made by a local landlord to allocate five acres of land for a police station in the area be considered seriously.

The CJP expressed concern as to why the SHO who had put a Hindu child in a lockup was still at large. “Only departmental action is not enough. He should be put behind the bars,” he remarked.

Additional Advocate General (AAG) Punjab told the court that the provincial government had so far arrested 95 people in connection with attack on the temple. “Punjab police have sought assistance from NADRA for the facial recognition of these suspects,” he added.

CJP Gulzar reminded him that faces of these people were recognizable since they could be clearly seen in video footages of the incident being shown on electronic media. “You have sought NADRA’s help for identification of these suspects; and now it is up to the Authority whether to respond to your request now or in two years,” he said, and added, “Police’s job is not to write letters, but to take action.”

The CJP ordered action against dacoits in the katcha area of district Rahim Yar Khan so that peace could be restored there. “Alas! Decades have passed since the creation of Pakistan. And still we have not been able to get rid of lawless elements,” he regretted.

When AAG, Punjab told him that katcha area even extended into Sindh, CJP Gulzar replied that desired results could be produced if both the federating units, Punjab and Sindh, take joint action against the bandits.

The apex court ordered identification of the suspects held up in connection with attack on the Hindu temple in one week. “And those found innocent should be freed,” the CJP directed.

“And later challan should be presented in a trial court,” he ordered.

CJP Gulzar, on the occasion, remarked that the court had been informed that the interior of the temple had been restored to its original position. “Now its exterior should be renovated in one month,” he directed.

Reporter Amanat Gishkori