After Gojra, 3 'blasphemy' killings in Pak Punjab for 'desecrating Quran'

Lahore, Aug. 5 (ANI): In the wake of the anti-Christian riots in Gojra, a factory owner and two others have been killed by factory workers for allegedly desecrating the holy Quran.

A worker entered Najeebullah's factory at noon, and saw him placing an outdated calendar - which had verses from the holy Quran written on it -on a table.

The worker accused Najeebullah of deserting the holy Quran.

When a guard tried to stop him, he called out to gather his colleagues and told them that Najeebullah committed 'blasphemy', the Daily Times reports.

The enraged mob surrounded Najeebullah and shot him dead.

The mob also attacked and beat up several employees, and blocked the road leading to the factory for three hours.

They later set the unit on fire.

Heavy police contingents had to be called in to bring the situation under control.

The killings have heightened tensions in Punjab.

Hundreds of Muslims, apparently spurred by a banned militant group, stormed a Christian neighbourhood in Gojra on Saturday, and burned dozens of houses after reports surfaced that Christians had desecrated the Quran.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has said that the riots were pre-planned, and not a spontaneous reaction of an enraged Muslim community.

According to an HRCP report, announcements made from mosques in Gojra on July 31 urged Muslims to gather and "make mincemeat of the Christians" over allegation of desecration of the Holy Quran. (ANI)