In a harrowing incident that underscores the systemic violence faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, the minor daughter of a Hindu resident, Hero Kohli, was abducted by four Muslim men in Sindhri three days ago. The girl, named Keshu, was subjected to brutal gang-rape during her captivity. Tragically, she was discovered unconscious and thrown outside her home, succumbing to her injuries before reaching Mirpurkhas Hospital.
The response from local authorities has been appalling. Instead of investigating the heinous crime committed against Keshu, police have arrested her parents, falsely accusing them of prostitution involving their daughter. This grotesque twist of justice exemplifies the extreme vulnerability of minority communities in Pakistan, particularly Hindu families who frequently find themselves caught in a web of abuse and neglect by the Paki establishment.
Families of kidnapped girls often face a grim reality: when they report abductions, they are met with counter-accusations from the kidnappers, who falsely assert that the marriages to their abducted daughters are consensual. Victims are coerced into silence, intimidated into testifying in favor of their abductors, leaving families powerless and desperate. The fear of retaliation looms large, forcing many to accept the status quo rather than pursue justice.
The ongoing abduction and forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan reveal a broader pattern of oppression and violence against religious minorities. Hindu communities in Sindh have long been marginalized, derogatorily labeled as “kafirs” and subjected to societal scorn and discrimination. This case not only highlights the tragic fate of Keshu but also serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive atmosphere of fear and hostility that surrounds minority groups in Pakistan.