Sialkot tragedy: Police arrests 8 more main accused

The Punjab Police on Wednesday arrested eight more accused for their primary role in the Sialkot lynching tragedy and they were being produced before the anti-terrorism court.

According to reports, around 34 main suspects have been arrested so far, whereas the recent arrests came after the law enforcement officials traced the culprits via CCTV footage and cellular data.

The nation was shell-shocked and disgusted when a Sri Lankan national, Priyantha Kumara, was brutally lynched and his body set on fire by a mob in Sialkot last week.

The sickening incident outraged the nation as the civil and military leaders denounced it as “horrific”, “shameful” and “extra-judicial vigilantism”.

Among the arrests made by the police was also Imtiaz alias Billi, who was involved in torturing Kumara and desecrating his body. He was arrested on a bus bound for Rawalpindi.

A spokesperson for the Punjab Police further added that another main accused, who was arrested last night, was Zakir Salman.

“The arrested include those who made [the] video of the incident, provoked [others] and tortured [Kumara],” the spokesperson added. “Punjab Chief Minister Usman Bazdar and IG Punjab are constantly monitoring the investigation of the case.”

CM Buzdar also said that he was personally overseeing the progress made in the Sialkot tragedy case. "All requirements of justice would be met," he assured.

A day earlier, clerics belonging to the All Pakistan Ulema Council (APUC) held a condolence reference at Sri Lankan High Commission to condemn the heinous Sialkot lynching incident.

The gathering was held to express solidarity with the bereaved family and the Sri Lankan government and people over the incident.

During a press conference after the meeting, religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani said that the incident was highly condemnable and was "against the teachings of Islam".

"The lynching was inhumane and against the teachings of Islam. Even though a price cannot be put on an individual's life, I would urge the federal government to pay compensation to the family members of the victim," Usmani said.