2017 Sargodha shrine massacre

2017 Sargodha shrine massacre
2017 Sargodha shrine massacre (Punjab, Pakistan)
2017 Sargodha shrine massacre (Pakistan)
Location95 Shomaali, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan
Coordinates31°41′02″N 72°16′02″E / 31.683953°N 72.267105°E / 31.683953; 72.267105
DateApril 1, 2017 (2017-04-01)
TargetPeople visiting shrine
Attack type
Club beating, Torture, Drugging
WeaponsClub, Machete, Baton
Deaths20
Injured3
VictimsPeople at the spot
AssailantsShrine custodian, Abdul Washed and his associates
No. of participants
5
DefenderPunjab Police

On 1 April 2017, Abdul Waheed, the custodian of Pir Mohammad Ali Gujjar shrine, along with his associates tortured 20 people to death inside the shrine in Sargodha, Pakistan.[1] Waheed was arrested by police and later admitted to committing the crime. The Chief Minister of Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif announced Rs. 5 lakh (US$1,700) for families of deceased victims and Rs. 2 lakh (US$690) for each of the injured.[2]

Attack

The caretaker of the shrine, Abdul Waheed invited people to visit the shrine and sedated them through food on late Saturday night.[2] Some sources also claimed that the food was poisoned. After sedation, Waheed started beating people along with his associates and tortured people with a club, a knife and other weapons. The assault was carried out in the courtyard of the shrine.[2] Some bodies of victims were nude.[2] During the assault, 20 people were killed, among whom were six belonging to a single family, while three were injured. Out of the three injured, one informed police.[3]

Investigation

After being informed, the local police arrived and arrested Waheed and four of his accomplices.[3] During investigation, Waheed admitted to had have committed the crime.[3] Local rescue official Mazhar Shah said that Waheed used to meet his devotees twice a month and used to torture them.[2]

References

  1. ^ "20 killed by shrine custodian in Sargodha: police". Dawn. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e "20 tortured to death at Sargodha shrine". The Nation. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Sargodha shrine case: Murderer, accomplices sent to police on physical remand". Geo News. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.