Karachi, Apr 12: The Karachi Police stood like a mute spectator when Jagdish Kumar, a Hindu factory worker, was being lynched by his co-workers.

Jagdish was reportedly murdered on April 8 on the suspicion that he had uttered blasphemous words, which enraged his fellow workers who, in turn, beat him to death in police’s presence

The Korangi Police, however, denied this allegation, and declined to give any details.

Lately, it was learnt that the police registered an FIR under sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code against “unknown persons.” The case is registered at the Korangi Police Station. However, no arrest has been made despite the fact that the murder took place in a crowded factory area in full view of several workers.

The deceased worker used to work in the ‘stretching’ department of Nova Leather Industries Private Limited, which is based in the Korangi Industrial Area. Jagdish was serving in Nova Industries for the last eight years. He originally belonged to Mirpur Khas and was living with his brother-in-law in Karachi in the Marvari Mohallah, located near the Lyari General Hospital.

Nova Industries is a large factory, employing over 7000 workers. Some of the workers at the factory said that Jagdesh has committed blashphemy and this was not the first time he used objectionable language, reported The News.

According to fellow workers who saw the Jagdish’s killing, he entered into a quarrel with some co-workers on April 8 at around 10AM on some issue. The matter was resolved by the supervisor of the department concerned and work then resumed in the department. The quarrel was once again resumed at 11.30AM when some workers attacked Jagdish and spread rumours that he had uttered blashphemous remarks. This was the first time the mention of blasphemous remarks against Jagdish were made.

Sensing the seriousness of the situation, factory managers took Jagdish to the factory’s Security Room at 11.45AM. “The angry mob broke the security room’s door and dragged a hapless Jagdesh out of the factory gate and started beating him up with fists and kicks. The police looked on passively as the factory workers beat Jagdesh to death,” recalled one worker.

But so enraged were the workers that they were not happy with only killing Jagdish, but wanted to burn his body as well. But, before his body could be burnt, the policemen who were allegedly present on the occasion took custody of the body.

It is believed that the factory has the possession of a video tape-recording of the incident since it records all incidents within and outside the factory premises through close circuit TV cameras. However, the factory owners are tight-lipped about possessing any such tape.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) have strongly condemned the killing and has demanded a high level judicial inquiry into the tragic incident. In a statement released last evening, the Commission said that the blasphemy laws need to be repealed. (ANI)