The disappearance of a Hindu girl from Sukkur district in Pakistan in 2021 continues to baffle authorities, shedding light on the deficiencies in provincial law enforcement systems and the unequal allocation of resources based on victims’ backgrounds. The girl, Priya Kumari, went missing during the Ashura day in August 2021 while assisting her family during Muharram processions in Sukkur. Despite extensive investigations, including Joint Investigation Teams and intelligence operations, the efforts have failed to locate her, causing distress to her family and the community.
Priya Kumari’s family, who still awaits her return, was informed by the provincial Home Minister in July 2024 that their daughter is believed to be alive, raising hopes but also highlighting the government’s inability to reunite her with her family. The case has garnered national attention, with concerns growing over the perceived lack of progress in finding the missing child, especially compared to cases involving more influential families. The emotional toll on Priya Kumari’s mother, knowing her daughter is potentially alive but unreachable, has been profound, exacerbated by the ongoing search efforts and social media appeals for her safe return.
In a separate incident in April, a ninth-grade Hindu girl named Pooja, daughter of Ramsun Thakur, was reportedly abducted and forced into a marriage after a forced conversion, sparking outrage from a minority rights organization in Pakistan. The incident has raised alarms about the safety of minority communities in the country, underscoring the need for greater protection and vigilance to prevent such violations from recurring.
