“Is this the azadi (freedom) we are fighting for that we have begun lynching people? What shall we do with such Azadi?” asked an aggrieved relative of Mohammed Ayub Pandith, a Deputy Superintendent of Police who was brutally lynched by a mob outside Srinagar's Grand Mosque last week. The incident has shaken the very core of the Kashmir Valley, a region that has for ever remained controversial and rife with violence. After decades of hatred, unshakeable hostility, aggressive movements from jihadis, and separatists, resistance from the locals, and reported Army atrocities, it took a police officer's life for Kashmir to finally take a break, and a good look at itself.
The gory incident ironically took place during the Lailat-ul-Qadr or Shab-e-Qadr, the night believed to be when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad. It was the holy month of Ramadan, and Kashmir impenitently sacrificed yet another person for its whims.
A special investigation team has been formed by the government to probe Pandith's lynching, and the Jammu and Kashmir police picked up three more accused, arresting a total of five people in the case. Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid ordered the transfer of Superintendent of Police (North Srinagar) Sajad Khaliq Bhat, as the incident took place under his jurisdiction. Authorities said the mob attacked Pandith after spotting him behaving suspiciously outside Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta locality during congregational prayers. Witnesses said three people were injured after the deceased officer began to shoot at them with his pistol as the mob tried to catch him. They are believed to have stripped him naked before beating and stoning him to death. Vaid said, “People should understand the difference between good and bad. They killed someone who was on duty to protect them.”
The attack was followed by a call of protest from Kashmiri separatist leaders against the death of a civilian in clashed in Pulwama district, where local residents confronted security forces after three suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were killed in an encounter. Meanwhile, Pandith's service revolver is missing, and since he wasn't in his uniform during the attack, it took hours before he was identified.
Lynched officer deserted by partners?
As leaders condemn the incident, and social media fights with each other over moral wrongs and rights, initial investigation revealed the killing was a major lapse of security. Several questions were raised over the lack of police officers coming in aid to protect Pandith from the mob. Officials looking into the case believe that the victim was not provided any cover by any of the personnel when he was overpowered. “The officer was with 12 people from the security wing who were on duty at the mosque. It was a security team deployed for security duty. He (Pandith) just went to see when the people went out of mosque raising slogans probably to receive Moulvi Umer Farooq. He went out to see what led to this kind of commotion. We are investigating why people became suspicious and why they suddenly attacked him and killed him. Rest of the things is part of the investigation and police are on the job to probe the incident,” Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Security, Dilbagh Singh said.
“It is unfortunate, however, that the people for whose security he was deployed turned out to be his killers. There was also the deployment of armed police inside the mosque for the security and the entire matter is under investigation.” Officials said there was no immediate reaction from the other personnel who were deployed on duty to rescue the DSP. An official confirmed that it was a major security lapse as two other policemen who were part of the security duty fled from the scene when Pandith was being beaten. Another said there was no immediate reaction either from the armed deployment which was inside the mosque or any of the police personnel deployed from the security wing of the police.
Local community heads, and women question the death of one their own
Intelligence reports received by the army on the communication between local terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Taiba publicised that common people are expressing resent over the brutal killings of their own people by militant groups. Local community heads, particularly women, are questioning the “spilling of blood of own people” in the fight with the government.
A source said, “The women are questioning local terrorists on this issue as a large number of Kashmiris are working in the police force, the army and other governmental services, and this can lead to a blood bath in the future.” It is indicated that Pandith and Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz - who was kidnapped from his own wedding by militants, and murdered, could most probably be one of the consequences of the ongoing feud amongst different factions of terror groups. Kashmiris now sense insecurities and have taken both the murders as an attack on their own people.
Security has been boosted, and the region's police force has been asked to keep a check on the incidents of terrorists attending funerals of militants. Additional forces are being rushed and existing ones are being redeployed at several places. Local media reports said 62 people, including civilians, militants, and armed forces personnel were been killed in the first 26 days of the holy month of Ramadan.
