Srinagar Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Munir Khan on Monday said that if need arises Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farroq would be questioned in connection with the lynching case of DySP Ayub Pandit.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar Khan said that they have arrested 20 persons in connection with the mob lynching of DySP Pandit here last month.
Pandit was lynched outside Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of the city on June 22 night which was being observed as Shab-e-Qadr.
The IGP said the investigation in the case is still on and more arrests are likely to take place.”So far 20 accused have been arrested and one more, a militant identified as Sajad Ahmad Gilkar, was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Redbugh area of Budgam on July 12, Khan said.
“The investigation of the case is going on at a fast pace and some more arrests are expected which will lead to the completion of the investigation and the case will be submitted for judicial determination,” he said.
Khan said the police is making vigorous efforts to identify the remaining assailants involved in the crime, while recovery of other evidences related to the commission of the crime is underway.
“The important pieces of evidence including an iron rod, by which the officer was hit, his identity card, service pistol (in a damaged condition) and his cell phone have been recovered, he said.
The IGP said it was encouraging to note that people came forward to provide valuable information which led to a substantial headway in the investigations.
“Unlike other cases, there was widespread condemnation by cross-section of the society.General public and eyewitnesses voluntarily came forward to render assistance in the investigation and provide valuable information.This led us to the right conclusion and the right line of investigation, he said.
Khan said in the initial phase, three persons were arrested and questioned which led to subsequent arrests and recovery of the evidence.
Stitching together the sequence of events which led to the lynching of the officer, the IGP said during investigations it surfaced that a group of hooligans came out of the mosque raising slogans in favour of militant commander Zakir Musa and “supposedly to welcome” chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
“Four miscreants saw the DySP, who was coming out of the mosque after checking the deployment for access control duties, called him and questioned him.They asked for his identity card which he refused to give.
“The hooligans started heckling the officer and the number of miscreants swelled.The officer fired some shots from his service rifle below the waistline causing injury to three assailants who were in the immediate proximity and were heckling him. However, the mob continued to beat him which ended in his death, Khan said.
He said it took time to identify the slain officer as “he was defaced and disfigured”.
Rejecting the charge that there was any kind of dereliction of duty on the part of police officials present in the area, the IGP said, “It seems the slain officer had not liaised with the officers of the police station concerned”.
Asked whether Mirwaiz s supporters were involved in the incident, Khan said the probe is still on.
He said “Everyone who needs to be questioned, would be questioned” in response to a query whether Mirwaiz would be questioned in connection with the case.
He said the slain officer was there to protect everyone praying at the mosque including the Mirwaiz.
On Army Thrashing of JK Cops
Referring to Ganderbal incident, where Army ransacked Police Station Gund and thrashed eight policemen including two officers, Inspector General of Police for Kashmir Zone, Munir Ahmed Khan said that they immediately took cognizance of the incident while Director General of Police registered a strong protest before General Commanding Officer of the Army.
When a local journalist asked him why they were quick to take note of lynching incident and showed laxity when Army thrashed cops inside police station, IGP in a lighter vein said that they dont get provoked and added that they have already taken the cognizance of the matter.
Our DGP lodged strong protest as a result Core Commander of the Army ordered inquiry. The commander of 3 Sector visited police station. Army has assured action against guilty, he said.
IGP Munir Khan also said that they have made a considerable progress in the investigation pertaining to the attack on Amarnath pilgrims in South Kashmir.
Responding to a question, Khan said that prima facie it appears that two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants with the help of two Over Ground Workers carried the attack on the vehicle, leaving 8 pilgrims dead.
We have identified the two Over Ground Workers who provided logistic support to the Lashkar-e-Taiba militants. Efforts are on to nab them, Khan said.He added that police has been investigating also to ascertain whether the militants killed in Barakpora Anantnag recently were a part of that attack or not. Investigation has been going on in the right direction and we have made a considerable progress in this regard, he said.
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