Five more suspects held in Mashal Khan lynching case

Police says 47 of 49 identified suspects have been apprehended


Iftikhar Firdous April 28, 2017
Mashal Khan, 23, was shot and lynched on April 13 following blasphemy allegations. PHOTO: FACEBOOK

PESHAWAR: Mardan police on Friday claimed to have arrested at least five more suspects reportedly involved in the murder of Mashal Khan, a university student who was lynched earlier this month over alleged blasphemy.

“We have so far apprehended 47 suspects of a total 49, who were identified with the help of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage,” DPO Mardan police Dr Mian Saeed told The Express Tribune. “Two others are believed to have fled to the tribal areas in the north.”

Those held were identified as Usman, Suleman, Nawab Ali, Abbas Sheno and Shabbir -- all students of Abdul Wali Khan University. Videos of the incident showed agitated students stomping on Mashal’s lifeless, blood-soaked body and hitting him with sticks.

Student who shot Mashal Khan arrested: DIG Mardan

The arrests come just a day after police claimed arrest of a key suspect who allegedly shot on Mashal. “According to witnesses, Mashal’s classmate Imran opened fire and shot him twice. He has now been arrested,” DIG Alam Khan Shinwari told a news conference on Thursday.

On Tuesday, two more key suspects involved in the lynching had been arrested after they were identified through CCTV footage.

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