ISLAMABAD: A serving police constable was arrested within 24 hours of the killing of a Sikh gurdwara caretaker and his wife in Mardan, northwestern Pakistan, authorities said Thursday, in a case that highlighted quick Pakistani law enforcement action despite the suspect's position within the police force.

Jagannath and Asawanti, who served as caretakers at Gurdwara Dera Baba Karam Singh in the northwestern Pakistani city, were shot and killed Wednesday, Mardan Police spokesperson Muhammad Faheem informed media.

Police identified the suspect as Sher Shah, a constable who had previously been stationed at the gurdwara.

The police spokesperson said forensic teams were analyzing cell phone data, CCTV footage and using facial recognition technology to identify the killer. Anti-terrorism laws were invoked and a Joint Investigation Team was formed.

Authorities said that preliminary interrogations revealed that Sher Shah harbored a personal grievance following his transfer from the gurdwara.

"A crime is a crime, whether committed against a Muslim or a non-Muslim," Provincial Minister for Auqaf, Hajj, Religious, and Minority Affairs Adnan Qadri said in a press conference. The victims' family was granted financial aid, and Rs4 million ($14,381) were allocated for the gurdwara's upkeep.

But across the border, the reaction took a completely different turn. Television pundits, politicians, and right-wing analysts in India seized the tragedy to play geopolitics. They used a singular incident to paint Pakistan as unsafe for minorities.

Talk show hosts, such as Hem Saroya on her show Vantage at Firstpost, started their monologues with variations of how while Pakistan was trying to project the image of a peacemaker abroad, at home it is a completely different story. It seems Pakistan’s recent role in facilitating peace talks between the United States and Iran has been a source of frustration for India.

These attacks come at a time when India is governed by a far-right party, heavily pushing a religious nationalist agenda that increasingly targets minorities.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reported in 2024 that in India "religious freedoms continue to deteriorate as attacks and discrimination against religious minorities continue to rise."

Human Rights Watch documented escalating mob violence against Muslims across multiple Indian states, while a 2025 report by India Hate Lab documented a 13% rise in hate speech from 2024.

In May, during Eid al-Adha, authorities in some Indian states implemented restrictions on Muslim prayer gatherings. Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, was quoted as saying Muslims should pray in shifts or "we will employ other methods," as reported by India Today Global.

In 2024, approximately 1,800 homes, mostly belonging to Muslims, were demolished in Lucknow under what authorities said was an eco-tourism project, according to The New Indian Express.

Attacks on Christian minority have also increased. In 2024 alone, a mob attacked 18 Christian families in Chhattisgarh according to The Wire.

Citizens for Justice and Peace have reported how Christian minorities face constant attacks in Manipur over ethnic and religious disputes.

Given the quick response from Pakistani authorities to the Mardan killings, this raises questions about differing approaches to prosecuting crimes against minorities in India.

Mardan

How Pakistan's accountability highlights India's minority protections gap