By Aroosa Hafeez

On 6 August 2020, eleven members of Hindu immigrant family died in mysterious circumstances in district Jodhpur, India. Pakistan through Pakistan’s High Commission in India handed over a note verbale to Indian authorities demanding India to share the details of investigation into the incident that took place in September and also the copy of First Information Report (FIR) by the Jodhpur police, which is still pending. In a recent statement Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in a statement said, that the government was seriously considering taking up the issue of mysterious murder of eleven Pakistani Hindu nationals in Jodhpur with international human rights organizations. He said writ petition in this regard had also been filed in the Islamabad High Court. Pakistan demanded India to share the details of investigation into the incident that took place in September and also the copy of First Information Report (FIR) by the Jodhpur police which is still pending.

He said the eleven members of Hindu community belonged to Bheel tribe and were residents of Sanghar district.  In 2012, they went to India for to perform religious rituals but they were lured for incentives and persuaded to apply for settlement. The deceased included his parents, three sisters, brother, daughter, two sons, and 75 year old Budha Ram (head of family).  Shrimati Mukhi, wife of Bhontrio Bheel registered an FIR 219/2020. According to the complaint 11 of her family members were murdered on August 6th, 2020 at Jodhpur town. Mukhi held responsible Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for killing her father BudhaRam(80), Raivya(35), Shamoon (25), Antari (75), Shrimati Lakshmi (39), Shrimati Devi (28), and their children Mukadas (16),  Zain (12), Dayaal (12), Danish (10), and Diya (5) through  RSS goons after the agency failed to persuade them to spy on Pakistan.

Mukhi said that her family went to India in 2012 to perform religious rituals. They started living in Rajasthan where they were trapped by the RAW and given various favors to make anti-Pakistan statements and when her father decided to furtively go back to Pakistan along with his family to expose RAW, whole family was murdered. Mukhi claimed that she had a credible source who told her that RAW wanted to use her father as a spy against Pakistan but they failed to persuade him. Shrimati Mukhi also did a press conference in which she said that after coming to Rajashtan her family was trapped by Indian intelligence agency.  

A preliminary investigator Rahul Bharat, superintendent police (rural) said, "We are yet to ascertain the cause and means of death. They appeared to have committed suicide by consuming some chemical in the night. However,  Police said, “There was neither any injury mark on the bodies nor any evidences of any foul play but we have roped in a forensic team and a dog squad before arriving at any conclusion." A family member was found alive outside the hut in Lodta village of Dechu area but he claimed to have no idea about the incident. Kewal Ram (37) is the only surviving member of the victim family who is in the custody of Indian police because of murder charges upon him. Initial investigations revealed that Kewal Ram and his brother are married to the girls from same family and is accusing his in-laws of the deaths of his family members. According to a police officer in Jodhpur, the victims were living under threat from the family of their daughter-in-law who is the wife of Kewal Ram. Police officer added that from past six months she was living with her family in Jodhpur due to some family dispute, which can be a possible trigger for their suicide. 

According to the investigations Police also founded evidence of abuse. The local DSP was giving threats to the family that he will send them back to Pakistan. There are also allegations on a female constable that she abused the family. Jodhpur, Inspector General of police says that case is sensitive and the family committed suicide. A family member Lakshmi made a video and wrote everything in her diary before her death, which is used as evidence in the investigation.

Pakistan Hindu Council chief Ramesh Kumar called on foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday to discuss the murder of 11 members of Pakistan immigrant family. Foreign Minister said that Pakistan had taken up the issue forcefully with the Indian side through diplomatic channels and assured MNA Dr. Kumar Pakistan will continue pushing India to provide the requisite information without any delay. Pakistan minority Hindus also rallied outside Indian High Commission in Islamabad on September 24th to protest the death of family.

Islamabad High Court also issued notice to the federal government and Foreign office on the murder of 11 members of immigrant family. Mukhi appealed Pakistani government and International Court of Justice (ICJ) to make sure a forensic investigation is conducted into death of her family members. She also said that her family members were killed because Indian government failed to achieve its evil and immoral goals.

Indian institutions have fallen in a spiral of silence. The suspect of case, RAW has always been involved in such activities. Existence of RAW is no less than a threat for peace of region and if RAW is involved in the matter, proper investigations should be done. The matter should not be overlooked as no justice in such cases creates more violence and hatred in society.

Freedom of expression is merely a myth in India. Indian government as well as their media doesn’t appreciate different views. Mostly Indians don’t even see that they share common religion, they torture every person who goes against government, and Citizens who are not pro-government are deemed as anti-national and are accused of being pro- Pakistani. Within Modi’s India, decisions at the top reflect and amplify rhetoric at the individual level, which no one can oppose. Modi has positioned India against Pakistan through his fascist policies.

India has always proved it wrong in being a secular country and has a conflict-ridden societal structure which only allows few to be part of significant society who supports their policies. India has no boundaries andlimits for gender, religion, race they don't even see that they share common religion, the only thing that matters for Indian government is to be anti-Pakistani. Question arises that how many more people will be killed in India because of hatred towards Pakistan. The way forward is to understand the situation and give basic human rights to every citizen and not to be killed because of hatred between both countries. This matter will not be solved unless Indian authorities will kept aside abhorrence towards Pakistan and will ensure a forensic investigation without any delay. If gruesome killing of Pakistani immigrant family was a murder, it should not be painted as suicide.