Lynching of policeman shameful: Mehbooba

Srinagar, June 23

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday termed as “shameful” the mob lynching of a police officer outside the Jama Masjid in downtown Srinagar and warned people of severe backlash if the police lost its patience.

J-K Police, she said, is one of the best police forces in the country and is showing maximum restraint.

“What can be more shameful than this (lynching of officer). I want to say J&K Police is one of the best police forces in the country; they are brave but are showing maximum restraint (while dealing with law and order situation) because they feel they are dealing with their own people.

“But, for how long?” she told reporters on the sidelines of a wreath-laying ceremony of the slain officer here.

“The day their patience wanes away, then, I believe, things will be difficult. I appeal to people that there is still time and we should understand. The police force is our own force, they are our children and such a treatment is shameful,” the Chief Minister said.

A mob attacked Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ayub Pandith when he was coming out of the mosque after checking access control.

Mehbooba said the officer had not gone to the mosque for personal work but was there to protect the lives of the people and do his duty.

“An SHO, along with five cops, was killed some days back, and now this DSP. I appeal to people that this is a shameful incident, that those who protect you, show patience while dealing with you, but if you behave like this with them, then if they lose their patience, then God forbid, such a time will come when people have to flee after seeing a (police) Gypsy on the road,” she said. PTI