A Sikh caretaker couple were shot dead by a man inside a gurdwara in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday. Police have now arrested the main suspect, identified as Sher Shah.
The victims, Jagannath and his wife, Asma Wanti, both served as caretakers of a gurdwara in Babu Mohalla, Mardan district, around 60 km from Pehwar. The couple was found shot dead inside the premises of the shrine on Wednesday. The death created outrage among the Sikh community and led to an increase in concerns of religious minorities in Pakistan.
Mardan District Police Officer (DPO) Masood Ahmad Bangash said that the prime suspect, Sher Shah, who is a resident of the Amazugari area in Mardan, was arrested after an investigation by the joint Investigation Team.
The motive behind the killing remains unclear, and police are investigating all angles after collecting the suspect's statements.
Reports said that the “assailants entered the gurdwara” and opened fire before fleeing the scene.
The DPO said that the Counter-Terrorism Department and other senior officials have not found any evidence linking Sher Shah to any terrorist organisation or organised extremist network.
Pakistan media reports said that a police guard was assigned to the gurdwara but was absent at the time of the attack. Investigators also found that the digital video recorder at the premises was not functioning.
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami had called the murder a serious attack on religious freedom and minority rights.
He said the attack violated the sanctity of a place of worship.
Pakistan is home to an estimated 20,000-30,000 Sikhs, with a significant portion of the population being in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, Mardan and surrounding districts.
