RAHIM YAR KHAN🇵🇰– A woman belonging to the Hindu Bheel community was killed and four members of her family were injured in an armed attack reportedly linked to a dispute over government land near Chak 244-P in Rahim Yar Khan district.
According to police and local reports, the incident took place on Friday night in a settlement where the family of Chokha Jee Bheel had been living on government land for several years.
The victims were reportedly attacked by a group of armed men carrying pistols and sticks. During the attack, gunfire was exchanged, resulting in the death of a woman identified as Aagri Mai, who sustained a bullet wound. Four other members of the family, including Chokha Jee Bheel, were also injured.
Chokha Jee was reportedly beaten with sticks and sustained injuries to his mouth and teeth, while another family member suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
Police said a case has been registered against several nominated suspects, including Hammad, Mohiuddin, Kabira Jee Bheel, Beebo Jee Bheel, Naseeba Bheel, Dastgir, Gopal Bheel, Shahbaz and Javed, along with three unidentified individuals.
According to police, raids were conducted to arrest the suspects, but they had already left their homes and hideouts. The accused subsequently obtained interim bail from a court.
Dispute Over Government Land
Initial accounts cited by police indicate that the violence stemmed from a dispute over the occupation of government land. The Bheel family had been residing on the land, while the attackers were allegedly attempting to force them to leave and take control of the property.
The precise legal status of the land and the competing claims over its occupation remain matters for the relevant authorities and courts to determine.
Police spokesperson Zeeshan Randhawa said an investigation was under way and that the case would be pursued on merit and in accordance with the law.
Community Calls for Justice
The killing has prompted calls from members and supporters of the Bheel community for protection of minority residents and a transparent investigation into the incident.
Community members have appealed to the District Police Officer (DPO) Rahim Yar Khan and the Inspector General of Punjab Police to ensure that those responsible for the violence are brought to justice.
The incident has also renewed concerns about the vulnerability of poor communities living on disputed or government-owned land. Rights advocates and community representatives are likely to focus on whether residents were adequately protected and whether the land dispute was handled through lawful administrative and judicial channels rather than force.
A Broader Question of Protection
The Bheel community is among the Hindu minority communities living in southern Punjab, including Rahim Yar Khan. Public records also document the presence of Hindu residents in Chak 244-P and surrounding areas.
For the bereaved family, however, the immediate concern is the loss of life and the safety of those who survived the attack.
Authorities now face pressure to complete the investigation, establish the circumstances that led to the shooting and ensure that any person found responsible faces due process under the law.
The case highlights a fundamental principle: land disputes must be resolved through lawful procedures, and no individual or community should be subjected to violence, intimidation or forced displacement.
For more updates and detailed coverage of this case and other issues affecting the Hindu and Sindhi communities in Sindh, Pakistan, stay tuned to Sindh Renaissance.
