A Killing in the name of Religion

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 By Salam Dharejo (writing for the NEWSLINE)

“Poverty compelled me to send Jagdish for better earning in Karachi, in return I received flatten body of my son. I still do not know what the sin he made so was he brutally killed.”  Pirbhu ji the father of Jagdish while talking from Mirpur Khas to Newsline on phone could not utter more words but his sobs told the story that how parents had been grieve on the unnatural death of Jagdish who has committed no sin but a love with the Muslim girl.  Jagdish the 27 years old the Hindu worker of NOVA leather factory was killed by his co-workers on the charge of blasphemy in the presence of police and security guards including with hundreds of workers.

 The brutal incident of killing of Jagdish Kumar took place at the NOVA factory located in Korangi industrial area where Jagdish has been working in the stitching department since last one year. According to the information revealed by his co-workers, the killing of Jagdish happened because of his had love affair with a girl (Shugufta don’t mention her name in the article) the worker of the same department. The other Muslim workers were not happy on the cordial relationship of the Muslim girl with a Hindu, particularly Waqas, Usman and Hashim, the worker of the same factory were not happy with the relationship. It has been learnt from the factory workers that Jagdish was threatened by above-mentioned persons to leave the factory otherwise be ready for worst consequences. Consequently Jagdish has not been come to factory in a fear for two days.   

 On April 8, he resumed work in the factory where he had quarrel with the same persons and they started beating Jadish and alleged that he has uttered blasphemous words against the Prophet. In the meantime, Ms. Noshaba the supervisor of the department, who was aware about the affair of Jagdish, interrupted and simply snapping Jagdish resolved the problem at 10 am. After the incident numerous spread in the factory that Jagdish has uttered blasphemous words against Prophet consequently group of Muslim workers entered in the department and started beating Jagdish. Realizing the terrified severity of incident, Aslam Gujar the security incharge was informed about the situation and he send Naeem the security personnel who brought Jadish into the security room at 11-45 am. In the mean time factory administration called police to control the worsening situation at 12.17 pm  and a police mobile of Korangi station reached at the spot at 12-31 pm. Police ASI Javed in the meantime called other two police mobiles to overcome the situation. But angry workers broke the iron gate of security room dragged Jadish out of the room and started beating with heavy iron rod, hammers and scissors. Police, factory administration and security guards were silent spectator of horrible incident.

 The mob was shouting “Maro kafir ko maro” Kill the infidel. . When I was passing through the brutally crushed body of Jagdish lying down on road he was breathing at that time, I heard a loud voice ” He is still alive, let his body be burnt”. An eyewitness worker told the Newsline. According to the medico-legal report released by ML at JPMC, “the death of Jagdish occurred due to acute head injury resulting from hard and blunt objects”. Om Parkash the brother in law was shivering when telling the prospects of funeral. ” His left eye was stabbed out and every inch of the body was scratched.”

 Jagdish Kumar the scheduled caste Hindu was one of the eight siblings of 61-year-old Pirbhu Ji Marvari’s who is a biri worker at Mirpur Khas. Jagdish has migrated to Karachi some how two year ago for better employment and used to live with his brother in law at Marvari Mohalla located in Lyari Town, Karachi. He has been working in NOVA Leather factory where more than 7,000 workers are employed. It has been learnt that there are more than 50 Hindu workers employed in the factory. After the killing of Jagdish, Hindu workers most of them belong to Marvari Mohalla have confined their selves in homes and not going to work in a fear of reaction against them from religious groups. ” Our parents are terrified, they do not allow even to go out of home. I used to work in NOVA factory but now I fear to work over there.” Ram, the 24 years old worker of the NOVA factory told the Newsline.

 The murder of Jagdish in the name of religion has turned Hindu minority under the sense of insecurity. It is worth noting that drought trodden communities mainly comprising of scheduled caste Hindu migrate every year from Tharparkar to the barrage areas of the province. Most of youngsters of the migrant Hindu families move to Karachi for the sake of employment. At present, in Korangi industries, thousands of Hindu workers are employed in different factories and provide cheap labour force to the industry. It has been learnt that due to increasing influence of religious extremism in the city many Hindu workers had changed their names. “My original name is Jeevat but factory workers known me with name of Javed” a twenty 22 years old Hindu worker belonging to Tharparkar told the Newsline. During the reporting on minority workers, I have found that minority workers remain under the sense of insecurity; they hide their original names and castes from employers and co-workers even in community they live. Being the scheduled castes, people living in urban areas are losing their identity by changing names even languages.” Says Amar Guriro, a journalist working in leading English Daily.

 ”We have been victimized by the media, which highlighted the murder of Jagdish and reported he was killed on the suspicion of blasphemy. Consequently we have been terrified to register the case in a fear of reaction from religious groups. How can we peruse the case, if we did it will make our own lives on stake. Therefore, we have not registered a case against any one.” Om Parkash, the brother in law of Jagdish told the Newsline, he was literally shivering in telling the story and finished talking shortly because of fear. ” The cameras had captured the intentions of all country men through live coverage of at the incident happened with Sher Afghan Niazi. When electronic media was busy in live coverage of Sher Afghan Niazi’s incident and correspondents were busy in getting updates about that incident, we were bringing the dead body of Jadish from Jinah Medical Hospital but no reporter came to us to know that how a human has been killed. Criticizing the role of media, a Hindu resident of Marvari Mohalla told the Newsline.

 Though, three persons have been arrested by the police, which are supposed to involve in murder of Jadish. But police is reluctant to investigate the case by arresting persons of factory administration and no steps have been taken against the police personel who failed in protecting Jagdish from the mob. According to police reports, no formal FIR has been registered by the parents of Jagdish so they are not in a position to arrest suspects. Indifference of the provincial government regarding to the case also shows that how scheduled castes minority is neglected in power corridors. After passing three weeks of the murder of Jadish, no high profile government representative has assured the victim family though condolence. ” Not a single person from police or government has come for condolence.” Om Parkash told the Newsline. ” Though I personally have not met with the parents of victim, but I have been informed that parents are not ready to register a case and avoid to peruse the issue.” Say Daya Ram, the Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs. According to him, he has put this issue infront of Prime Minister Yoususf Raza Gilani during his recent visit to Karachi that to protect the minority from there should be the legislation as another case could not take place. He added that the Prime Minister supported my ideas and shown consent that work should be done on legislation. When the minister was asked questions whether any instruction of judicial inquiry of Jagdish was announced by the prime minister? He was of the view that as for as the case of judicial inquiry against the murder of Jadish is concerned, no prime minister nor Chief minister has issued any orders. It is astonishing to note that Daya Ram who belong to upper caste Hindu, has not take serious efforts to probe the case. While, neglecting the murder of Jagdish he is concentrating on future strategy regarding to the changes in legislation on blasphemy.

 People were silent, workers were scared and political and religious leaders were indifferent on the brutal murder of Jagdish. ” We can not demonstrate against the murder of Jadish because we fear that if we come on the roads we might face sever consequence from the reaction of religious parties.” Says active trade union leader of Korangi. When the leaders of religious parties were approached to comment about the incident, Molana Asudullah Bhutto, the leader of Jamiat-e- Islami was contacted through telephone he said, “I have read the news about the incident in newspapers. Though, I have not detailed information that how this incident took place. But I would say that according to Shariat,  body can  be punished by public if any person is suspected in blasphemy. But the person would be punished through the law of Shariat.”  While when Muhammad Sarwat Qadri, the president of Sunny Tahreek was contacted to comment about the incident, he was of the view that yet I have not received detail information of the murder of Jagdish, but if he has uttered blasphemous words against the Prophet and three persons are the evidence than his killing is justified.”

 ”I will not register a case against the murderer of my son. Because I think if I peruse this case it may be turned in to a clash between religions. The character of my family is infront of every one in my neighbors to whom we are living since generations. I have never been discriminated by Muslims on the basis of religion. How can Jagdish who has been nourished and socialized with Muslim fellows can utter a word against the Prophet to whom we respect like other Muslims? My heart and soul believe that he has not made any sin he was innocent.

 Unfortunately, in our country trend of religious harmony is rapidly vanishing. Intolerance in the shape of sectarian violence and religious differences is eroding the peace. Sense of insecurity and fear has destroyed the trust and belief. In the state of religious disharmony and increasing violence has increased the vulnerability of minority those who have already been social neglected and economically deprived. Now their lives are on stake. No voice is raised against the incident. Why political leadership, government authorities and civil society is not taking the murder of Jagdish as the issue of human rights violation. Who will break the ice and start debate on the issue of killings in the name of religion. Islam does not teach the violence but it is the religion, which teaches the lessons of  peace and tolerance.

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