The heartbreaking case of Divya Kumari, a 16-year-old Hindu girl abducted from her home in Lyari Kalakot Karachi, Sindh. on the night of 29 September 2024, highlights a disturbing trend that continues to plague minority communities in Pakistan. As this is the third reported abduction of Hindu girls from the area this year alone. Divya’s disappearance raises important questions about the efficacy of legal institutions to protect and protect vulnerable populations.
Despite the days that have passed since her abduction, there have been no leads or updates on Divya’s whereabouts. The lack of action by law enforcement agencies and legal institutions has left his family and the wider Hindu community in a state of despair. In a society where the rights of minorities are often ignored, the silence of the authorities is deafening, turning their inaction into a tacit endorsement of the systemic problems at play.
According to Divya’s birth certificate, she is legally recognized as a minor, yet the police response to her case has been shockingly inadequate. The abduction should have triggered an immediate legal response, including the application of Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Child Marriage Act 2013, which aims to protect minors from forced marriage and other forms of exploitation. Instead, the police seem to have limited their involvement to just lodging an FIR, a process that seems to lack the urgency and seriousness required in such a serious situation.
This negligence highlights a troubling pattern within law enforcement, where kidnappings of minority girls are often treated as lesser crimes, leading to a culture of impunity for perpetrators. For the Hindu community in Pakistan, this is not just a case of abduction of a girl. This reflects the broader social problems that allow such acts to occur with alarming frequency.
Demands for accountability and action from the Hindu community are increasing. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) South, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South and Chief Minister Sindh to prioritize the recovery of Divya Kumari and ensure that her abductors are brought to justice.
Hindu community main demand is from international social organizations and the United Nation to take strict notice of this persecution of the Hindu community in Pakistan.
Finally, the kidnapping of Divya Kumari is an act for the entire society. It is a plea for justice not only for her but also for the countless others who suffer in silence. We must stand together to demand accountability, ensure safety, and work for a future where every girl can live free from fear and violence.
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.
