Twenty people, including the four main accused, have been arrested by the J&K police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the fatal mob assault on DSP Ayub Pandith on June 22.
“Twenty assailants have been arrested so far. One of the accused, Sajad Ahmmad Gilkar, alias Saja Bilu, was killed in an encounter on July 12 at Redbugh, Budgam,” said Inspector- General of Police, Kashmir, Muneer Khan in Srinagar.
The killing of Pandith, who belonged to the security wing, by a mob on the premises of historic Jamia Masjid on Shab-e-Qadr during Ramzan, shook the Valley and evoked widespread condemnation.
Eyewitnesses help
The police claimed there was “a very good response from the general public as eyewitnesses voluntarily came forward to render assistance in the investigation”.
Mr. Khan said four of the main accused were identified and arrested first. “It led to subsequent arrests. It has surfaced that a group of assailants saw the officer checking the security personnel deployed for the access control duties of the Jamia Masjid and as soon as the officer came out of the premises of the mosque, the assailants heckled him,” he said.
The police have also recovered crucial evidence, including an iron rod used to assault the officer, a service pistol in a damaged condition and the deceased officer’s cellphone. “The officer — in self-defence — had fired some shots below the waistline, causing injury to three assailants. However, the mob continued to beat him, which ended in his lynching,” said Mr. Khan.
More arrests soon
“Some more arrests are expected, which will lead to the completion of the investigation,” Mr. Khan said. The IGP however, ruled out any delinquency on the part of the police on the day of incident.
Meanwhile, Independent MLA Engineer Rashid on Monday held a protest in Srinagar over the alleged thrashing of policemen by Army jawans on Saturday