Outrage as police officer lynched at J&K mosque

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 drew all-round condemnation, including from J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Ms Mehbooba 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 officials said on Friday two people involved in the murder had been arrested and that a third accused has been identified and he too would be arrested soon. “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 historic Jamia Masjid with his mobile phone when the mob attacked him.

Reports said a group of youth chanting pro-azadi slogans confronted the police officials. While two others fled, Pandith argued with the mob. As he failed to explain his presence, the mob 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 then 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.

Muhammad Ayub Pandith

The police chief said Pandith was posted outside the mosque for the security of people so that 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 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 mobile phone. His juniors who were also supposed to be with him are being questioned, police sources said. Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, speaking to reporters at a wreath-laying ceremony, said they were allowed by the DSP to offer prayers at the mosque.

The incident has been widely condemned in Kashmir and beyond. Ms Mufti condemned the officer’s killing and warned that the police was exercising maximum restraint. “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 a total breach of trust,” she said. She said the J&K police personnel were “brave people” and the force was one of the best in the nation. “They are exercising restraint as they are dealing with their own people. But it could be very hard if their patience runs out,” she warned. Ms Mufti added that if vicious elements “continued behaving like this, it is possible the “past may return”, when the security forces used “maximum force”.

Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was delivering a sermon inside the historic mosque when the incident took place, strongly condemned the police officer’s lynching. “It is a big tragedy and most unfortunate incident and I strongly condemn it. Neither Islam nor our society permits such brutal acts,” he said, adding: “No doubt there is anger, particularly among the youth against the police and other security forces, but that doesn’t mean people will indulge in acts which go against the basic principles of humanity.” He earlier tweeted: “Mob violence & public lynching is outside the parameters of our values & religion... We cannot allow state brutality to snatch our humanity & values.”

Former CM and national Conference working chief Omar Abdullah called the incident a “tragedy” and “a travesty”. He tweeted: “His death is a tragedy & the manner of his death a travesty. May the people who lynched DySP Pandith burn in hell for their sins.”

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said the killing was a “new low” in Kashmir. He tweeted: “The brutal lynching of DySP Md Ayub Pandith marks a new low. Pained beyond words at the horrific incident.”

The BJP, part of the coalition government in the state, said the officer’s lynching is “heart-rending”. Party spokesman Khalid Jehangir said: “He was killed by the same people whom he protected.” He added: “The henchmen of a few people derive sadistic pleasure by lynching and killing people just to appease their bosses sitting across the Line of Control (LoC).” The BJP spokesman said the government should review its decision to provide “Z” security to Mirwaiz, “whom the slain DySP was guarding”.

Hundreds of mourners attended Pandith’s funeral on Friday. His sister asked: “My brother too was a Muslim and was among those who prayed at Jamia Masjid. Does Islam permit such a brutal killing?”

The officer lived barely 3 km from where he fell to the mob frenzy. His cousin and well-known lawyer Muhammad Abdullah Pandith said: “We are in a state of shock and disbelief, unable to understand what was his fault that he was killed.”

Earlier, Pandith’s colleagues broke down at a wreath-laying ceremony at Srinagar’s district police lines. The CM, who attended the ceremony, said: “There can’t be a more shameful incident than this, where one policeman trying to perform his duty is killed brutally.”