The Consulate General of India in Chicago said it was in touch with the police and Indian diaspora to locate Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi
world1 day ago
Christians sat among the rubble of their ransacked church for the first Sunday service since a Muslim mob rampaged through their neighbourhood in eastern Pakistan.
More than 80 Christian homes and 19 churches were vandalised in an hours-long riot in Jaranwala in Punjab province on Wednesday, after allegations that holy Quran had been desecrated spread through the city.
On Sunday, around 200 Christians sat in chairs set up in a narrow alley alongside the main Salvation Army Church —its cross still missing after being ripped down by the crowds.
"We used to come here without any fear but today we need the police," 29-year-old housewife Nosheen Farman, who cannot yet return to her burned home, told AFP.
"We did not bring our children, the ones who we teach that they must come to church."
A choir girl sang alongside a tabla player, as dozens of security personnel guarded the area.
The crowds joined their hands together in prayer, except to occasionally wipe their eyes.
Many of the attendees had come from surrounding cities to show support.
While the church was too damaged to host the service, Christians entered in small groups to survey the blackened windows and cracked ceilings.
"After the recent incident, we have a lot of security doubts. We are wondering whether we are safe or not, said 32-year-old Sara Ejaz, a teacher who is staying with relatives nearby.
"Is this our country or not?"
Hundreds of Christians fled the violence in Jaranwala, many unable to return yet -- their houses gutted and broken contents strewn across the street.
Most of them are sanitary workers on meagre wages who occupy cramped homes shared by up to 18 people.
Some are sheltering at a government school or staying with relatives while the local government has promised to rebuild them.
"These buildings and houses will be restored, but it will be difficult for girls and children to come out of this trauma. They will always remember the terror they faced, that they had to flee their own homes," said 44-year-old Samson Salamat.
More than 125 people have been arrested linked to the vandalism, with 12 others being investigated for using mosque loudspeakers to call people to protest, Punjab police chief Usman Anwar told AFP on Friday.
Two Christian brothers have also been arrested for blasphemy, accused of desecrating the holy book.
The Consulate General of India in Chicago said it was in touch with the police and Indian diaspora to locate Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi
world1 day ago
More than 90 international and domestic flights were delayed or cancelled after mass sick leave by the airline's cabin crew
world1 day ago
Al-Najjar, one of the three hospitals in Rafah, is no longer functioning due to the ongoing hostilities in the vicinity and the military operation in Rafah
world1 day ago
He was reportedly shooting visuals of wild elephants crossing a river in Palakkad
world2 days ago
Sources said some senior crew members switched off their mobile phones just before flight operations, citing health issues
world2 days ago
During the war, Gaza's hospitals have been repeatedly attacked by Israel
world3 days ago
An Israeli official said the proposal that Hamas approved was a watered-down version of an Egyptian offer and included elements Israel could not accept
world3 days ago
Safety experts have said the problems at the company suggest significant safety culture defects that will not be turned around quickly
world3 days ago