DSP lynched outside Srinagar Jamia Masjid

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 23

A senior Jammu and Kashmir Police officer, who was part of security arrangements at the local Jamia Masjid for separatist Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s address, was lynched by an unruly mob outside the grand mosque last night.

Edit: Savagery in Srinagar

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Security Wing) Mohammed Ayub Pandith, 57, was beaten to death in the Nowhatta area of old city around 12.30 am as people gathered for congregational prayers for Shab-e-Qadar, a pious night in Islam.

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A senior police officer said Pandith was on security duty for “access control” at the mosque when he heard some noise in a nearby lane as Mirwaiz — who has round-the-clock police protection — was about to reach the mosque.

“As the officer came out of the mosque, he was initially manhandled by a mob. Sensing trouble, the officer pulled out his service revolver but did not fire at the mob directly. Later, the irate mob overpowered him, snatched his pistol and stripped him naked before beating him to death,” said ADGP (Security) Dilbagh Singh.

Sources said over 200 people attacked the DSP with sticks, iron bars and stones. The officer died on the spot.

Even the men of the security wing that the officer was heading abandoned him, the sources said, adding that the officer was not taking pictures when the mob attacked him.

“I believe many people in the mob knew his identity and attacked him. They checked his ID and suspected him to be an intelligence officer initially,” a source said, adding that three persons were injured when the DSP opened fire on the attackers.

Additional forces from the local police station arrived at the scene and fired tear gas shells and bullets to retrieve the body, which lay on the road for around 10 minutes. It was identified by the family in the morning.

J&K Director General of Police SP Vaid said the DSP was posted to guard people and check miscreants.

“The line between humanity and bestiality has blurred. The man who was protecting them was lynched,” the DGP said at the wreath-laying ceremony. He said two of the three suspects had been arrested. 

‘Most unfortunate’ 

The incident is most unfortunate... I am deeply disturbed by this brutal act. Mob violence and public lynching is outside the parameters of our values and religion — Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, separatist leader

‘It’s shameful’

What can be more shameful? J-K Police are one of the best in the country... They are brave but are showing maximum restraint. The day their patience wanes, I believe things will be difficult — Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Chief Minister

‘Guilty, burn in hell’

May the people who lynched DSP Pandith burn in hell... Such heinous elements are enemies of Kashmiriyat, humanity and should get  the sternest sentence — Omar Abdullah, ex-CM