<![CDATA[SRINAGAR: At least twenty accused were arrested so far while one Hizb militant involved in the lynching of DSP Ayub Pandith on June 23, was killed in an encounter Beerwah in Budgam on July 11. More arrests are expected in couple of days, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Range, Muneer Khan disclosed at a press conference here on Monday. IG Khan said, the civil society members and the residents of downtown voluntarily helped the police in identifying the accused who were part of the mob that beat the DSP Ayub Pandith to death by even using iron rods on June 23 night at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta in old city. "Though the investigation under the supervision of a senior officer is going on, the police concluded that one Hizb terrorist Sajad Gilkar was main accused. He even pierced the iron rod into the stomach of deceased DSP Pandith," IG Khan disclosed. IG Khan described the lynching of Pandith as a serious and the first-of-its kind in the Valley. Khan said investigations were going on expeditiously and more arrests were expected in coming days. Pandith, who was posted outside the Jamia Masjid Srinagar in Nowhatta, on June 23 was lynched to death by a mob. Pandith had opened fire in his defence, wounding three people. The IG aid that slain Hizb militant Sajad Gilkar was one of the accused in the DySP Muhammad Ayub Pandith's lynching case. Sajad was killed in an encounter with forces on July 11 in Beerwah area of Budgam district. Sajad Gilkar, resident of pandan in Nowhatta, was a drug addict and was even involved several terror activities, according to the records available with the police . "Besides, being involved in stone pelting cases Sajad was also involved in stabbing cases." Pandith, a Deputy SP in Jammu and Kashmir Police's security wing, according to police was on access control duty in Jamia Masjid on June 22, the night of Shab-e-Qadr, when he was lynched by a group of miscreants. IG Khan even said that the police could even question Mirwaiz Umar farooq , if need arises in the lynching case. Mirwaiz, a senior separatist leader and custodian of Jamia Masjid, was present inside the mosque when the incident occurred outside the Majid but inside the premises. DSP Ayub Pandith was on security duty and was coordinating with his men, a group of people countered him and asked him to prove his identity, which he resisted to. "They later started heckling him. The DSP in self-defence fired a few shots below the waistline," Khan added. The group of people later dragged him and thrashed him with iron rods. "We have recovered an iron rod, besides, Pandith's Cell Phone, Pistol and Identity Card." Asked if it was a dereliction of duty by other fellow colleagues of Dy SP, Khan said, "No. There was noise around, huge rush and it was dark and nobody knew who the guy was." Khan said that there will be more arrests likely into the case and that the investigations will continue and will be completed in stipulated time. IG said that people voluntarily including civil society members came forward and helped the police in the investigations. They led us to the right conclusions and investigation. He appreciated the cooperation of general public. The police has registered case under murder under FIR No: 51/2017 under section 302, 148, 149, 341, 392 RPC and 13 Unlawful (P) Act was registered in Police Station, Nowhatta and investigations were set into motion.]]>
