Mob kills senior cop in Jammu and Kashmir

SRINAGAR: In a horrific incident that left the Kashmir Valley and the whole of India aghast, a deputy superintendent of the J&K police was stripped naked and lynched to death by a mob outside the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.

The lynching of Mohammad Ayub Pandith drew all-round condemnation, including from J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Farooq.

Ms Mufti, calling the incident “shameful”, wondered how long the police would show restraint as she warned that there could be a backlash if the force loses patience.

The gory attack outside Srinagar’s Grand Mosque on Thursday night ironically took place during Lailat-ul-Qadr or Shab-e-Qadr, the night which as per Islamic belief is when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to its Prophet Muhammad.

Police said two people involved in the murder were arrested and that a third accused has been identified and he too would be arrested soon.

Slain cop was taking photos outside mosque
“All involved will face the law,” J&K director-general of police Shesh Paul Vaid said.

DSP Muhammad Ayub Pandith was among the three police officials on surveillance and “anti-sabotage” duty and was taking pictures of those coming out of the Jamia Masjid with his mobile phone when the mob attacked him.

Reports said a group of youth chanting pro-azadi slogans confronted the police. While two officers fled, Pandith argued with the mob. As he failed to explain his presence, they caught him and the arguments turned into blows. The police officer then pulled his service revolver from his holster and fired at the mob, injuring three local youth. He was brutally beaten to death.

The police officials said he may have opened fire as a last resort in self-defence. They also said the youth who were injured were all shot in the leg, that showed that even under attack the officer was careful not to shoot to kill. The officer’s service weapon is missing.

The police chief said Pandith was posted outside the mosque for the security of the people so they could offer prayers without hindrance. “A few people who were standing outside the mosque lynched him. This is very unfortunate. People need to understand what is wrong. Further investigations are on,” Mr Vaid added.

The police had said on Thursday night that none of its officers or men were missing and that effort were on to ascertain the identity of the person lynched by the mob. Rumours had spread in Srinagar that the person lynched at Nowhatta outside the Grand Mosque was not a local or Muslim as he was not circumcised.

Many people also presumed him to be from one of the Central intelligence agencies. As the officer was not in uniform, he was identified hours later when his family called his cellphone.