Islamabad (TIP): Police have arrested the prime suspect in the double murder case involving a Sikh caretaker couple who were shot dead at a gurdwara in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said.
Jagannath and wife Asma Wanti served as caretakers of the gurdwara at Babu Mohalla in Mardan district, about 60 km northwest of Peshawar. They were shot dead on Wednesday, June 17.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, June 18, Mardan District Police Officer (DPO) Masood Ahmad Bangash said the prime suspect in the case had been arrested.
The suspect has been identified as Sher Shah, a resident of Amazugari.
Bangash said investigations conducted by a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising police officials, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel and other senior authorities, have so far found no evidence linking the suspect to any banned outfit, terrorist organisation or organised network.
The motive behind the killings remains unclear, and authorities are examining all possible angles in light of the suspect’s statements and other evidence collected so far, the DPO said.
Bangladesh tense over construction of tallest Lord Ram statue
Construction of an 81-foot Lord Ram statue in Bangladesh has been paused after threats from radical Islamist groups. The move has triggered protests and renewed debate over religious freedom and minority rights under Tarique Rahman.
Once completed, it would have been the largest statue of Lord Ram in Bangladesh, standing at 81 feet. However, the construction of the statue, already around 80% completed, has been halted following threats from radical Islamist outfits. The development comes after weeks of sustained pressure on social media, with Islamist preachers calling for the statue’s demolition. It has not only sparked protests from the Hindu community but also renewed concerns over religious freedom and minority rights in Bangladesh under Tarique Rahman.
The controversy comes at a time when tensions between India and Bangladesh have resurfaced. Earlier this week, the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s adviser, Zahed Ur Rahman, was briefly stopped by immigration authorities at the Delhi airport. It was due to his history of combative remarks against India. Rahman abandoned his India visit, with Dhaka lodging a strong protest with Delhi over the “humiliating treatment”.
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