LAHORE: People attacked a church in Kanwanlit village, Daska tehsil (Sialkot district), over a land dispute at about 10:00am on Friday morning and manhandled a couple Christian women. However, local police claimed that only a minor scuffle took place between the women of the Christian and Muslim communities and that the church was not damaged. Members of the Christian community claimed that the local station house officer (SHO) and assistant superintendent of police (ASP) had visited the place and seen the damage. The incident took place in Daska Saddar Police precinct.The churchÂ’s parish priest told Daily Times that about 20 people including women attacked the church and injured two people including an old woman who was pistol-whipped. He also said several windows had been broken. He said the attackers moved in on the church when most members of the Christian community had gone to work or to court. He said the attackers injured 70-year-old Veero (w/o Mehnga) and 50-year-old Salima. Both of VeeroÂ’s legs were broken and her back was also injured, he added. The attackers broke several church windows, damaged the main alter and several copies of the Bible, he said, adding that the Christian community had also been warned not to seek legal action.
People of the area told Daily Times that the church was built about 20 years ago, but the land dispute between the church and the family of Muhammad Iqbal and others arose a year ago. Sialkot DPO Dr Tariq Khokhar told Daily Times that a minor scuffle had been reported between women of both communities. He also said police did not register any cognizable offence. He said the Christian community had only lodged a complaint. He said police had increased patrols the area to stop further incidents.