J&K: Senior Police Officer Lynched To Death By A Mob Outside Jamia Masjid In Srinagar

As reported by The Hindu, a mob near the historic Jamia Masjid of Nowhatta area in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir lynched a police officer to death. The incident took place on Thursday, 22 June.

The person was later identified as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mohammed Ayub Pandith of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The incident took place during the Shab-e-Qadr when night-long prayers are held. Police officer Mohammed Pandith was on duty. The incident took place late Thursday night; however, the exact time of the incident is still unclear. When devotees began emerging out of Jamia Masjid, Pandith clicked pictures of them proceeding from the mosque.

A group of youngsters spotted the police officer clicking photographs and carrying a pistol and tried to catch him. Reportedly, Pandith fired several shots at them, injuring three people.

The group caught up with Pandith and began beating him up. Soon, the group swelled to become a crowd. The mob stripped the officer before killing him by hitting him with stones.

The deceased officer’s body was recovered on Friday morning outside the Jamia Masjid. A wreath-laying ceremony was held for the slain officer at 11 AM the next day. The authorities have imposed Section 144 in seven police station jurisdictions following the incident.

Director general of police SP Vaid said the killing was sad and unfortunate. “The official was killed by the mob while he was performing his duties. It’s a very sad and unfortunate incident,” Vaid was quoted by The Times of India as saying.

No Friday prayers will be allowed at the mosque in the wake of the restrictions. It later came to light that Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was in the mosque and was planning to address a major congregation at the mosque on Friday, 23 June.

The Logical Indian take

The Logical Indian community condemns the violent and unfortunate incident. The mob that attacked DSP Mohammed Ayub Pandith and beat him to death near Jamia Masjid should be brought to justice. Such acts will only hijack the mission to bring back peace in Kashmir.