Srinagar, India: In a brazen act of violence, an armed mob attacked a mosque belonging to the Ahmadiyya Community in Kotli district of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), leaving several people injured. The attackers reportedly demolished parts of the worship place and fired shots into the air in an attempt to intimidate the local Ahmadiyya community members.
According to local media reports, the incident took place during daylight hours when a group of over 50 unidentified assailants armed with various weapons stormed the Baitul Zikr worship place in the Bhabra area of Kotli. Among those injured was Zahida Parveen, an Ahmadi woman, who was among the eight individuals rushed to Kotli District Hospital for treatment.
This attack follows previous demands from opponents of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya to demolish the minarets atop the worship place. These demands were issued with an ultimatum to the local administration, threatening to take matters into their own hands if the minarets were not demolished by a certain date. Similar attacks had occurred previously, with miscreants demolishing minarets at another Ahmadi worship place in Kotli on a previous date.
The Ahmadiyya community has lodged a complaint with the Kotli police, urging them to take action against the perpetrators. The community is seeking justice and a guarantee of protection from further violence.
It is crucial for authorities to thoroughly investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. The targeting of religious communities and their places of worship is intolerable and must be met with swift and decisive action to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.