
A 25-year-old Hindu farmer and community activist, Kailash Kohli, was shot dead in Pakistan’s Sindh province, sparking outrage and protests among local residents who say religious minorities are increasingly exposed to targeted violence.
According to the CNN-News18 report, the killing took place on January 4, 2026, in Goth Daho village under Tehsil Talhar in Badin district. Kohli was allegedly approached by unidentified assailants in broad daylight and shot twice in the chest at close range, killing him on the spot.
Kohli was actively involved in local community issues and had emerged as a voice for minority rights in the area. Sources cited by CNN-News18 said investigators are examining whether the attack was linked to his activism or to wider religious tensions in the region, where Hindus form one of the most marginalised communities.
Protests have since broken out across parts of Badin district, with residents blocking roads and staging sit-in demonstrations demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible. Protesters said they would not withdraw until concrete action is taken.
Anger over the killing has also spilled onto social media, with activists and rights groups amplifying calls for justice and urging the Sindh provincial government to intervene swiftly.
Shiva Kachhi, chairman of the Minority Rights Organization Pakistan Darawar Itehad, condemned the killing, calling it a “brutal and cold-blooded murder”. In a post on X, he said that “the blood of Kailash Kohli demands justice”.
We strongly condemn the brutal and cold-blooded murder of the innocent Hindu youth Kailash Kolhi. The blood of Kailash Kolhi demands justice from all of us.We fully support the protest sit-in to be held tomorrow in front of the DC Office, Badin, demanding the immediate arrest… pic.twitter.com/is1x4ERUF9 — Shiva Kachhi (دراوڙ)🇵🇰 (@FaqirShiva) January 7, 2026
According to statements shared by protest organisers, the sit-in began at around 10 am on Wednesday and continued overnight into Thursday, reflecting what they described as deep-seated frustration within the community. Men, women, elderly residents and children were seen participating, braving difficult conditions to press for accountability.
Protesters said the agitation was not just about one killing but a broader outcry against what they allege is a system that shields perpetrators while leaving minorities vulnerable to intimidation and violence.
Intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Kohli’s murder fits a recurring pattern of targeted attacks against Hindu minorities in Sindh. Such cases, they said, are often followed by slow or inconclusive investigations, with convictions remaining rare.
Despite repeated human rights notices and expressions of concern, the lack of accountability has created a culture of impunity, the sources said, allowing violence against vulnerable communities to continue unchecked.
The killing has once again drawn attention to the challenges faced by minorities in rural Sindh, where Hindus have long reported issues ranging from abductions and intimidation to discrimination and enforced disappearances.
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