New Delhi (NVI): Religious persecution and abductions of Hindu girls in Pakistan continue as in yet another such case, a Hindu girl was kidnapped from Tando Jam area of Hyderabad city of Sindh province in the Muslim-majority nation.
The girl identified as Pooja was abducted today while returning home from work. Various human rights bodies and activists in Pakistan and across the world have appealed to Pakistani authorities and Sindh police to recover her before she is also forcibly converted and married.
Just in: Another girl belonging to the #Hindu community, Pooja has been abducted while returning home from work at Tando Jam, Hyderabad, #Sindh. @sindhpolicedmc8 recover her before she will forcibly converted to Islam. #StopConvertingMinorities pic.twitter.com/Pk3d3RRGAh
— Voice of Pakistan Minority (@voice_minority) March 17, 2021
Pooja’s abduction comes just days after the recent forced conversions of two girls- Arti and Kaveeta – in the same Sindh province.
The minor Hindu girl, identified as Kaveeta Oad, was abducted from Kandhkot area of Sindh and taken to Ghotki where she was focibly converted to Islam. She was kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam and married off to her abductor in Sindh Province, as per local reports.
The girl was kidnapped by a man of Bahalkani tribe in the province and converted to Islam by notorious politician and Barelvi cleric Mian Mithoo.
Not only this, but her house was also torched by unknown men on the night of March 14 in Kandhkot area of Sindh. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.
On the night of 14th March, Kavita’s, (a 13 yr old minor #Hindu girl who was kidnapped and forcibly converted) house has been torched by unknown goons. Despite of the promises by the officials, Kavita’s family hasn’t been provided any security. Why?#StopConvertingMinorities pic.twitter.com/vn0L5UhtbL
— Voice of Pakistan Minority (@voice_minority) March 16, 2021
The minor girl was kidnapped by five men from her home on March 8, according to local media reports. Meanwhile, an FIR has been filed in the matter.
The teenage girl reportedly appeared before a court on March 10 and claimed that she was over 18 year old. However, the police has filed a case under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act in the case. The Act makes a marriage between an adult and a minor punishable by up to three years of imprisonment.
As per local reports, the minor girl recorded her statement at a court today where she stated before the court that she was not kidnapped and went to covert out of free will. Human rights observers and activists have seen this as a brainwashing attempt by the Muslim cleric involved in her forced conversion.
Sukhdev Hemnani, Vice-President of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who was present at the court proceedings today, tweeted: “U/S 164 of CRPC, the court has recorded Kavita’s statement. She stated before the court that she was not kidnapped and went to covert out of free will. Court has sent her to Child Protection Centre at Sukkur until investigation is completed.”
U/S 164 of CRPC, the court has recorded Kavita’s statement. She stated before the court that she was not kidnapped and went to covert out of free will. Court has sent her to Child Protection Centre at Sukkur until investigation is completed.
— Sukhdev (@SukhdevHemnani_) March 17, 2021
Meanwhile, she has been shifted to a government safe house but her parents were not allowed to meet her.
Abductions of Hindu, Christian and other minority community girls and their forcible conversion and marriage with their kidnappers continue in Pakistan, with several Human Rights groups condemning the Pakistan government for its failure to stop such incidents.
-ARK
