A Deputy Superintendent of the Jammu & Kashmir Police was lynched by a group of “hooligans” outside the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of Srinagar shortly after Thursday midnight as they believed he was a Kashmiri Pandit. This is for the first
time a serving police officer has been lynched in full public view in the Valley.
A 1990-batch police officer, serving in the security wing of State police has been identified as Mohd Ayoub Pandith, a resident of Nowpara, Khanyar. He is survived by his wife and two children, a daughter and a son.
While mourners gathered in a large number to pay tributes to their loved one, close relatives claimed Pandith was targeted by the attackers as they believed he was a Kashmiri Pandit. One of his sisters claimed attackers lynched him since he was carrying an identity card which had his name written as MA Pandit.
The “barbaric” act was widely condemned by members of the civil society and mainstream politicians, including Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Governor NN Vohra.
Thousands of worshippers were praying inside the historic mosque on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Qadr at the time of the incident.
The police officer was attacked by the mob soon after he stepped out of the mosque after checking access control of the mosque in order to ensure peaceful assembly of worshippers inside the mosque.
Terming the lynching an unfortunate incident, J&K Director General of Police SP Vaid said, “The DSP was posted at the access control of the mosque to prevent miscreants from vitiating the atmosphere so that people could offer prayers in peace. But a few among those, for the security of whom he had been deployed there, lynched him.”
“When he came out after checking, he was surrounded by some miscreants who started manhandling him and asking for his identification.
Initial investigation revealed that there was an altercation and the officer fired to get away from the mob. He was, however, overpowered and killed near Bata Chowk in Nowhatta area,” Vaid said.
Some reports said that he allegedly pulled out his pistol and fired shots that injured three people. Vaid said two people have been arrested and massive manhunt for another accused has been launched by the police.
“All of them (involved in the lynching) will face the law,” the DGP told reporters on the sidelines of the wreath-laying ceremony for the slain officer at district police lines in Srinagar.
Defending the firing by the officer in which three persons were injured, Vaid said, “The DSP was carrying a pistol and he had the right to self-defence.”
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was joined by senior Cabinet colleagues, Chief Secretary and top police and bureaucrats at the wreath-laying ceremony.
Describing the incident as “shameful”, the Chief Minister wondered how long the police would show restraint as she warned that there could be a backlash if the force loses patience.
“What can be more shameful than thisIJ I want to say that J&K police is one of the best police forces in the country. They are brave but are showing maximum restraint because they feel that they are dealing with their own people. But for how longIJ The day their patience wanes, then, I believe, things will be difficult,” she said.
“I appeal to the 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,” she added.
Mehbooba said the officer had not gone to the mosque for personal work but was there to protect the lives of the people and fulfil his duty.
“A SHO along with five cops was killed some days back and now this DSP... I appeal to the people that this is a shameful incident. 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.