PESHAWAR – Police in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have arrestedmore than two dozen suspects in overnight raids a day after a Hindu templewas set ablaze and badly damaged by a mob in the town of Karak, some 100km(62 miles) southeast of the provincial capital Peshawar.

As many as 350 people including JUI-F district leader Maulana Mirza Aqeemhave been booked for launching an attack on Shri Paramhans Ji MaharajSamadhi on Wednesday.

However, a total of 31 suspects have been arrested raids are beingconducted to arrest the other suspects.

The mob carried out the attack as locals were apparently offended by aplanned extension of the temple, which was built in 1920.

Karak District Police Officer Irfanullah said the shrine’s keeper had”secretly” bought a house next to the shrine. The protesters were againstits construction because they assumed the shrine was being expanded.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed has taken took suo-motu notice ofthe incident after a meeting with Pakistan Hindu Council representative DrRamesh Kumar. The case will be heard on January 5.

The top court has also sought a report from the National Commission ofMinorities as well as police chief and chief secretary of the northwesternprovince.