PHOTO: ADEEL AHMED/EXPRESS
What provoked 26-year-old Lutf Lashari remains an enigma. But the police, who went through the entire medical record of the suspect during initial investigations, appear to be certain about the vacuity of the profane and incendiary assault.
The incident happened on Wednesday in Durga Shiv mandir, built in the premises of Circuit House in GOR Colony. The people inside the temple overpowered Lashari and handed him over to the police. An FIR was registered on the complaint of the priest, Bhagat Karamchand Mukhi.
"I saw him park his motorcycle near [the] mandir and take off his slippers before entering," described Mukhi, who was standing outside the temple when Lashari arrived. He told The Express Tribune that while he did not recognise the man, his respectful manner of entering the temple led him to believe that he was a Hindu.
The priest's fleeting anxiety about the unknown man bounced back in the form of panic when, after a minute, he heard sounds like something was thwacking the idols inside. "I ran towards the temple and shouted at him to stop," claimed Mukhi. "He turned towards me and tried to hit me with the hammer."
A case has been registered against him under Criminal Procedure Code's section 324, pertaining to attempted murder, besides sections 295 and 295-A, pertaining to attacking a place of worship, insulting it and outraging people's religious sentiments. They bring a punishment of up to 10 years if proven guilty.
Mental stability
GOR Colony SHO Ayub Soomro told The Express Tribune that the court has granted a three-day physical remand of the suspect and also ordered his medical examination from Sir CJ Cowasjee Mental Hospital. According to him, Lashari's father is a BPS-16 officer in the Sindh local government department while his mother works for the Water and Power Development Authority. The family lives in GOR Colony but they hail from Mirpurkhas district.
Lashari, who is currently locked up in the GOR police station, has a degree in commerce and also claims to have a government job. However, he could not tell which government department he is employed in.
The psychiatrist’s version
Dr Eshwar Kumar told The Express Tribune that he has been Lashari's consultant for the last four years. According to him, Lashari is suffering from schizoid personality disorder. "He becomes aggressive very often," he said. "Sometimes, even I feel afraid when he is in my clinic."
He said that Lashari's condition showed some improvement six to seven months ago and his family wanted to get him married. "I advised them to delay the marriage for 10 months at least so that we can ensure that he can sustain the improvement."
Despite the doctor's admonition, Lashari's family got him married and during his last visit to Kumar's clinic over three weeks ago, his psychosis 'seemed to have relapsed'. Meanwhile, the temple's priest and devotees said they will hold a protest on June 5.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2015.
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