Nowhatta mob lynching: Mehbooba Mufti calls police officer’s killing shameful

She added, “Agar ye suluk karenge inka, agar inka(police) sabar jawab dega to phir shayad purana waqt na aaye road pe gypsy dekhke logon ko bhagna pde.” (If they (mob) behave like this, if they (police) run out of patience, then old days will come back when people will run upon seeing a Gypsy)

She also praised the police, saying they were constantly attacked by the militants and that people should understand that they were deployed for the security and safety of the citizens.

#WATCH: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti speaks on death of Deputy SP Mohammed Ayub Pandith, says “police exercising max restraint,ppl must understand” pic.twitter.com/M9uOvkaLH5

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2017

The mob allegedly accused Ayub of making a video of stone pelting by locals and attacked him. He is said to have opened fire with his service pistol in defence after the situation became out of control.

Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid said two people have been arrested in the case and a third person accused has been identified. “They will have to face the law. The official was killed by the mob while he was performing his duties. It’s a very sad and unfortunate incident.”

Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah too condemned the incident. In a tweet, he said: “His death is a tragedy & the manner of his death a travesty. May the people who lynched DySP Pandith burn in hell for their sins.”

Separatist leader and All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in a tweet, said, “Deeply disturbed & condemn the brutal act at Nowhatta.Mob violence & public lynching is outside the parameters of our values & religion….”