A Sikh caretaker couple was shot dead inside a gurdwara in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, triggering concern among the minority community and calls for immediate action against those responsible.
The attack took place in the Babu Mohallah area of Mardan district, around 60 kilometres northwest of Peshawar, news agency PTI reported, citing police.
District Police Officer Masood Ahmed said unidentified gunmen entered the gurdwara and opened fire, killing Jagannath and his wife Asma Wanti on the spot.
Police said investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the killings and are working to determine the motive behind the attack.
Authorities have formed special investigation teams and launched a multi-pronged inquiry. Officials said modern forensic techniques and technical resources are being used to identify and apprehend the assailants.
Reacting to the incident, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly member Suresh Kumar strongly condemned the killings and demanded the immediate arrest of those involved, the report said.
Kumar gave law enforcement agencies a 24-hour deadline to demonstrate progress in the case and also called for a transparent and impartial investigation into all aspects of the attack.
"It is deeply alarming that such an incident could occur despite the presence of security personnel and police in the area," PTI quoted him as saying.
The lawmaker also raised concerns over the handling of surveillance evidence collected from the crime scene.
He alleged that the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) containing CCTV footage was removed in an "extremely careless manner", raising questions about the preservation of evidence and the integrity of the investigation, the report further noted.
Kumar urged the District Police Officer of Mardan, the Regional Police Officer of Mardan Region and the Inspector General of Police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure a thorough probe and take action against any officials found negligent.
Warning of public protests if swift action is not taken, Kumar said demonstrations would be organised in Mardan, Peshawar and Islamabad if the suspects are not arrested or if investigators fail to make significant progress within 24 hours.
Police, meanwhile, said all available leads are being pursued and efforts are ongoing to bring those responsible for the killings to justice.
