DSP Ayub Pandith lynched in Srinagar: Omar Abdullah visits residence of slain police officer

Srinagar: National Conference working president Omar Abdullah visited the residence of a senior police officer who was lynched by a mob outside Jamia Masjid on Tuesday and demanded swift action to bring the perpetrators of the “heinous crime” to book. [caption id=“attachment_3162416” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of NC leader Omar Abdullah. PTI[/caption] “Abdullah visited the residence of slain DSP Muhammed Ayub Pandith at Nowpora-Khanyar (locality of Srinagar) and expressed his solidarity with the bereaved family,” a statement issued by the National Conference said. The police officer was stripped naked and stoned to death by a mob in downtown Srinagar on Friday, while he was on duty at the grand old mosque on the occasion of Shab-e-Qadr. Paying tribute to the officer, the former chief minister said that the “heinous crime” was an onslaught against the basic tenets of “humanity and Kashmiriyat” and it needed to be condemned unequivocally and unconditionally by every conscientious person. Abdullah offered Fateha (special prayers) for the departed soul and prayed for patience and strength for the family to bear the loss. He said he stood in solidarity with the family and would eagerly await swift action that would bring the perpetrators to book. Abdullah had earlier announced a donation of Rs 10 lakh to the police welfare fund and one month’s salary as a legislator to the fund as a contribution for the families of brave martyrs of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.