In a disturbing incident in Khanpur, Pakistan, radical Islamists have reportedly abducted a Hindu girl named Payal Kumari from her village at gunpoint. The victim is the daughter of a Hindu businessman, and she was taken in front of her brother. The accused is said to have tried to forcefully convert the girl to Islam and asked for ransom from her father before absconding.
This incident is just the latest in a string of similar kidnappings and forced conversions of Hindu girls in Pakistan, highlighting the continuing persecution of religious minorities in the country. Young girls are abducted, converted into Islam and forced to marry or are kept as sex slaves or raped.
The Pakistani government has been criticized for failing to protect religious minorities and for allowing extremist groups to operate with impunity. The international community is also being urged to take notice of the situation and pressure the Pakistani government to take action to protect the rights and safety of religious minorities.