One day after a case had been registered against 142 protestors for attacking police at village Ralioke near Daska last week, Sialkot police have arrested 51 individuals suspected of being involved in the attack. 

 

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on the complaint of Motra Police Station House Officer (SHO) Mobin Ahmed Cheema who said that the police were performing routine duty when they reached village Ralioke at 2pm, finding a mob carrying hammers, sticks and iron rods, seeking to demolish the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya’s Baitul Zikr.

 

Cheema said that efforts to tell the charged mob not to take the law into their hands went in vain, adding that, instead, they attacked the police. 

 

He further stated that upon receiving information about the attack on the police, a heavy contingent reached the spot. 

 

According to details, when the Sialkot Superintendent Police (SP) investigation reached the spot, the angry protesters attacked the police once again, pelting them with stones, opening fire, and damaging the van of the SP and the prisoners.

 

As per the SHO, the police seized three pistols and bullets from the spot. Motra Police Station registered an FIR against 42 identified and 100 unidentified suspects under sections 324/353/440/148/149/295 /295A/153A of the PPC and 7-ATA. Some of the suspects were arrested on the day of the incident, while others were arrested on Sunday.

 

Videos of the attack on the Ahmadi Place were circulated on social media on Friday. Before that, suspects had made announcements on social media, urging people to gather at Ralioke.

 

The Punjab police played an effective role last week, as Lahore police reportedly thwarted a mob attack on a worship place of the Ahmadi community in the city's Samanabad. 

 

A strong contingent of force from several police stations reportedly responded to the emergency 15 call from the community when local residents were about to advance towards the Ahmadi worship place.

 

As the mob reportedly attempted to siege the worship place, the police launched a major operation, rescuing women, children and other worshippers, shifting them to a secured area and increased security of the worship place. Police high-ups also engaged known local figures, including religious leaders, to maintain peace.

 

An Ahmadi worshipper told Dawn News that the protesters had accused the Ahmadi community of violating the time schedule of worship on Friday. However, dismissing the charge, he said that they were following the given schedule.

 

Lahore Operations Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Faisal Kamran confirmed that protestors gathered outside the Ahmadi worship place were members of a religious-cum-political party pressing for a change in Ahmadi worship timing.