J&K: Top police officer stripped, lynched to death by mob outside Srinagar's Jamia Masjid

A deputy superintendent of police was lynched to death by an irate mob after he allegedly opened fire at a group of people who caught him clicking pictures near a mosque in downtown area of Srinagar.

Police officer Ayub Pandit's body was recovered from outside the Jamia Masjid in the Nowhatta area of the old Srinagar where he was attacked.

"Another officer sacrificed his life in line of duty DySP Mohammed Ayub Pandith of Security beaten to death by mob," said Jammu & Kashmir Police on Twitter.

Another officer sacrificed his life in line of duty DySP Mohammed Ayub Pandith of Security beaten to death by mob at #Nowhatta last night.

— J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) June 23, 2017

According to Kashmir Reader, eyewitnesses said that a group of youth caught hold the officer and thrashed him. 

Sources told PTI that the irate mob caught hold of him (officer) and stripped him naked before stoning him to death.

"The officer was on frisking duty at the Jamia Masjid. He was carrying out his duties as usual when the miscreants attacked him," informed sources told IANS.

Reports said Pandit's security guards ran away after they found the mob too large to be handle.

Pandit belonged to Khanyar area which is adjacent to Nowhatta where he was killed.

Muslims across Kashmir are observing Shab-e-Qadr (the night of power) with night-long prayers and supplications being made inside the mosques and shrines of the valley.

The authorities have already announced restrictions on movement of people in seven police station areas of the city as a precautionary measure.

The restrictions, which would come into force at dawn, were announced to maintain law and order as separatists had called for protests after Friday prayers against killing of a civilian during protests in Kakapora area of Pulwama District on Thursday.