LAHORE – Police have arrested 13 suspects and detained scores others in the lynching of a Sri Lankan employee Priyantha Kumara in Sialkot over blasphemy allegations.
A senior official said that police have also arrested two prominent suspects, who have been identified as Farhan Idrees and Talha, adding that both have confessed to the killing during initial interrogation, media report say.
A day earlier, a mob of private factory employees lynched Kukmara, who worked as export manager there, over the allegations of blasphemy.
پولیس نے 24 گھنٹے سے کم وقت میں 13 مرکزی ملزمان کو گرفتار کیا ،118 مشتبہ افراد زیر حراست ہیں آئی جی پنجاب اس آپریشن کی خود نگرانی کر رہے تھے RPO گوجرانولہ اور DPO سیالکوٹ کی نگرانی میں گرینڈ آپریشن کیا گیا اب تک200 سے زائد چھاپے مارے گئے@UsmanAKBuzdar @ImranKhanPTI #Sialkot https://t.co/8VGpLv01nx
— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) December 4, 2021
A dispute had emerged when the foreign national removed some posters from the machines installed at the factory. The posters were reportedly inscribed with the name of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Punjab government spokesperson Hassan Khawar said that the provincial police chief was personally overseeing the probe.
The lynching was widely condemned by Pakistan’s political and military leadership, prominent social and religious figures and civil society members.
سیالکوٹ واقعہ میں پولیس نے تشدد کرنے اور اشتعال انگیزی میں ملوث ملزمان میں سے ایک مرکزی ملزم فرحان ادریس کو گرفتار کر لیا ہے۔ 100سے زائد افراد کو حراست میں لےلیا ہےآئی جی پنجاب سارے معاملہ کی خود نگرانی کر رہے ہیں باقی ملزمان کی گرفتاری کیلیے چھاپے مارے جارہے ہیں@UsmanAKBuzdar pic.twitter.com/v7YOpQxwXs
— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) December 3, 2021
Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday expressed anger over the lynching of the Sri Lankan national in Sialkot.
Taking to Twitter, the premier said: “The horrific vigilante attack on factory in Sialkot & the burning alive of Sri Lankan manager is a day of shame for Pakistan”.
“I am overseeing the investigations & let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law. Arrests are in progress,” he added.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the cold blooded murder of Priyantha Kumara extremely is condemnable and shameful. Extra judicial vigilantism cannot be condoned at any cost, the army chief said.
COAS directs all out support to civil administration to arrest perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to justice.
Read more: https://pakobserver.net/sri-lankan-worker-tortured-to-death-in-sialkot-factory-mob-attack/
