Cops arrest 3 more in DySP lynching case, area SP suspended
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday arrested three more persons for their alleged involvement in the mob lynching of deputy superintendent of police Muhammad Ayub Pandith.
Area (North Srinagar) SP Sajad Khaliq Bhat has been shunted out and asked to report to the police headquarters. The police has also — in order to enhance the investigation into the case — constituted an SIT.
Pandith was stripped and beaten to death by a mob outside Srinagar’s grand mosque on Thursday night. He was among the three police officials on surveillance and “anti sabotage” duty and was reportedly clicking pictures of people emerging from the historic Jamia Masjid with his mobile phone when he was confronted by a mob.
Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, while terming the incident as “shameful” on Friday, said that Pandith had allowed his security guards to go home for “shab bedari” (spend the night in prayers). “The police officer apparently thought he would not be harmed as he was in his own area and among his own people. This (lynching) is shameful and a breach of trust,” she said.
The police said that 12 persons involved in the brutal act have, so far, been identified and five of them arrested. Among those arrested on Saturday is Danish Mir, one of the three youth who were injured when the cop had fired “in selfdefence”. Mir’s family said he was whisked away by police while being taken out of the operation theatre of Maharaj Hari Singh Hospital.