DySP Mohammed Ayub Pandith beaten to death in Srinagar
NB: Lynching someone is a crime against humanity, no matter where and under what circumstance it is done, and by whom. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family of DSP Pandith. DS
An irate mob on Friday lynched a senior
police officer Deputy Superintendent Mohammed Ayub Pandith near Jamia Masjid in
Nowhatta area of Jammu and Kashmir’s capital Srinagar after he allegedly opened
fire at a group of people who caught him clicking pictures near a mosque. Three
people were injured in the firing. The incident happened during prayers at
around 12 am. Curfew has been imposed in the area.
The deceased was
allegedly making a video of stone pelting by locals, and objecting to this, the
violent mob attacked him. Ayub opened fire through his service pistol in his
own defence after the situation became out of control, according to the news
agency ANI. Police reinforcements
were rushed to the area to restore normalcy. As the officer was not in
uniform, the police identified him after his family called his mobile phone, according
to NDTV.
PTI quoting police
sources said, “People tried to catch the man who allegedly fired several shots
from his pistol, injuring three persons. The irate mob then caught hold of him
and stripped him naked before stoning him to death.” Jammu and Kashmir
police in a statement said, “Another police officer sacrificed his life in
the line of duty. DySP Mohammed Ayub Pandith of Security attacked and beaten to
death by a mob at Nowhatta last night.”
Immediately after the
incident, Ayub’s body was taken to police control room for identification and
other legal procedures. The situation in the old city has turned tense
following the incident, police sources said. Muslims across Kashmir
were observing Shab-e-Qadr (the night of power) with night-long prayers and
supplications being made inside the mosques and shrines of the valley. As a precautionary
measure, the authorities have already announced restrictions on the movement of
people in seven police station areas of the city. A wreath laying
ceremony will be held for the slain officer on Friday at 11 am