Sialkot tragedy: Police arrests 8 more main accused

Law enforcers traced them via CCTV footage and cellular data

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.

پنجاب پولیس نے سانحہ سیالکوٹ میں CCTV فوٹیج اور کالز ڈیٹا کی مدد سے مزید 8مرکزی ملزمان کو گرفتارکرکے انسداد دہشت گردی عدالت میں آج پیش کیا ہےان میں پریانتھا کمارا کی نعش کی بے حرمتی کرنے والا ذاکر سلمان بھی شامل ہے جسے رات گرفتار کیا گیا
ابتک 34مرکزی ملزمان گرفتار ہیں!#Sialkot https://t.co/roOrn9Rvko pic.twitter.com/OBmxfWskaT

— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) December 8, 2021

 

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.

 

پولیس نے انتہائی مطلوب ملزم امتیاز عرف بلی کو بھی گرفتار کر لیا ہے سری لنکن شہری پر تشدد کرنے اور نعش کی بے حرمتی کرنے میں شامل تھا ملزم کی گرفتاری کے لیے متعدد مقامات پر چھاپے مارے مگر وہ ہر بار اپنا ٹھکانہ تبدیل کرلیتا,ملزم کو راولپنڈی جانے والی بس سے گرفتار کیا گیا#Sialkot https://t.co/pePiN586xQ pic.twitter.com/nYXuwq3fld

— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) December 6, 2021

 

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.