J&K cop lynching: Three more arrested; SIT to probe case

A mob had lynched Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ayoub Pandith outside the Jamia Masjid – Srinagar's biggest mosque in Nowhatta area – on Thursday.

Srinagar: A special investigation team (SIT) was formed on Saturday to expedite the probe into the lynching of Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ayoub Pandith, even as three more persons were arrested, a Jammu and Kashmir Police spokesman said.

"Three more persons have been arrested in this case taking the total number of arrests to five," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Director General of Police SP Vaid told news agency PTI: "We have identified 12 persons in connection with the case and five of them have been arrested." 

On Friday, the DGP had said two persons were arrested, while another one was identified.

He said the police have resolved not to spare the people behind the act.

"It is the resolve of Jammu and Kashmir Police that we are not going to spare these rascals," he said.

A mob had lynched Pandith outside the Jamia Masjid – Srinagar's biggest mosque in Nowhatta area – where he was deployed on access control duties to protect the devotees offering prayers on Thursday night.

Police officer's lynching 'unholy' act in holy Ramzan: MoS PMO Jitendra Singh

The DGP said the investigation in the case is on and everything would be clear once the report comes.

Jammu and Kashmir DSP lynching: Superintendent of Police​ transferred

"Let the investigation complete, then only we can say what has happened," he said.

Asked whether moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was present in Jamia Masjid when the incident took place, Vaid said, "It is a matter of investigation."

(With Agency inputs)