Prayer caller falls victim to Danda Gang

Staff Report

LAHORE: A prayer caller was clubbed and critically injured in an incident that appeared to be part of the series of Danda Gang assaults despite police claiming the gang’s arrest early last month.

Muhammad Sidique was found injured in the courtyard of a mosque in Township. The attack was similar to earlier ones by the Danda Gang, which claimed the lives of many innocent people.

Mr Sidique was clubbed by unidentified assailants at around 3:30am on Tuesday in the Township police precincts.

Model Town Superinten-dent of Police (SP) Syed Ahmad Mubeen, who visited the crime scene, said, “It seemed it was a theft case. However, investigations are under way and we should wait for the final report.”

He said Mr Sidique lived in a small room in the courtyard of the mosque. He and his son were sleeping in the room, but late at night Mr Sidique came out in the courtyard to sleep in the fresh air.

He said the doors of the mosque were locked and the assailants entered after scaling the boundary wall. He said they were breaking the mosque’s safe where all donations were kept. He said Mr Sidique probably woke up after hearing a noise and tried to stop the outlaws, at which they attacked.

Muhammad Imdad, who was the first to enter the mosque for the morning prayer, found Mr Sidique injured in the courtyard. After informing the neighbours about the incident, Mr Imdad took the prayer caller to a hospital, where his condition is critical.

The SP said the attackers fled away with all the donations kept in the safe, except a few coins. He said the prayer leader resides at the second floor of the mosque along with his family, but he did not witness the incident.

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