Story highlights A 15-year-old misheard cleric, raised his hand indicating he didn't love Prophet Mohammed

The cleric accused him of blasphemy; the teen responded by cutting off his hand, police say

Police chief: Cleric accused of inciting violence; locals regard teen as a hero

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) A Pakistani teenager cut off his hand after a Muslim cleric wrongly accused him of blasphemy, a local police chief told CNN.

Mohammad Anwar, a 15-year-old from Hujra Shah Muqeem, a village in Punjab province about 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest of Lahore, was being hailed as a hero by locals for his actions, Station House Officer Nausher Ali, the local police chief, told CNN.

Media reports in Pakistan also identified the teenager.

Ali said the incident took place Wednesday after the boy misheard the words of cleric Shabbir Ahmed during a sermon.

Ahmed had asked those present to raise their hands if they did not love the Prophet Mohammed, the police chief said, and the teen had mistakenly raised his hand.

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