Temple Committee Chairman Kidnapped In Pakistan

Islamabad, Apr 9: The chairman of the committee that manages the famous Hinglaj Mata temple in Balochistan province of southwest Pakistan has been kidnapped just two days before the beginning of the shrine's annual pilgrimage, according to a media report today.

Maharaj Ganga Ram Motiyani was abducted at Lasbela in Balochistan by two men in police uniform.  His followers organised a protest outside the Karachi Press Club yesterday and demanded that the government take steps for his recovery.

“Motiyani's kidnapping appears to be a conspiracy against Hindus since he was kidnapped two days before the gathering.” “He has not been kidnapped for ransom because he is a poor man,” Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, patron of the Pakistan Hindu Council and a former member of the Sindh Assembly, was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune daily.

Thousands of Hindus, including yatris from India, travel to the cave temple of Hinglaj Mata for a pilgrimage in April.

According to a Hindu myth, Lord Vishnu cut the body of Sati with his flaming disc into 50 pieces, which fell to the earth. Sati's head fell at Hinglaj.

Hindu leader Chandar Turshani said two men in police uniform arrived at Motiyani's shop at 8.30 pm and said a senior police official wanted to meet him.

“We contacted the area police station within half an hour but he was not there,” Turshani said.

“When we spoke to Motiyani on his phone, he said that he was being taken to meet a major,” Turshani alleged.  Motiyani's family lost contact with him after an hour.

“The provincial and district governments have assured us that he will be rescued but we are clueless about why Motiyani was taken and what condition he is in,” said Turshani.