SIALKOT: Amnesty International has expressed alarm over the “lynching and killing of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Sialkot” and has demanded “independent and impartial” investigation into the incident.
Amnesty International South Asia issued a statement shortly after a mob killed a Sri Lankan national and set on fire the body in Sialkot over blasphemy allegations.
Authorities must immediately conduct an independent, impartial and prompt investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) December 3, 2021
“Amnesty International is deeply alarmed by the disturbing lynching and killing of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Sialkot, allegedly due to a blasphemy accusation,” the human rights body wrote on Twitter.
“Authorities must immediately conduct an independent, impartial and prompt investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable,” it said, adding, “Today’s event underscores the urgency with which an environment that enables abuse and puts lives at risk must be rectified.”
Hundreds attack factory manager
The incident took place on Wazirabad Road in Sialkot, where the workers of private factories attacked the export manager of a factory and burnt his body after killing him.
Sialkot District Police Officer Umar Saeed Malik identified the man as Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan national. Videos shared on social media showed hundreds of men and young boys gathered at the site, with groups of them chanting slogans.
Armagan Gondal, the Sialkot police chief, told the Associated Press that the factory workers had accused the victim of desecrating posters bearing the name of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
The manager was lynched by the mob inside the factory, Gondal said, citing initial information. However, DPO Malik said police were still trying to determine what exactly prompted the mob to kill the Sri Lankan, whose remains were sent to a hospital for an autopsy.
In a statement issued later in the day, Sialkot police said that officials had begun investigating the lynching. The statement said that a case had been registered against unidentified people under sections 431 (mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel), 427 (mischief causing damage amounting to Rs50), 149 (unlawful assembly of people), 147 (rioting), 297 (trespassing of burial places), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), 302 (intentional murder) and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
PM Imran took notice
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken notice of the Sialkot incident, Minister for Religious Affairs Noor ul Haq Qadri announced.
“The prime minister has contacted Punjab government and sought details regarding the unfortunate incident,” the religious minister said adding that the premier has directed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Noor ul Haq further shared that the Prime Minister has said that safeguarding the life and property of foreigners is the responsibility of the state and no one would be allowed to take the law into their hand.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to Chief Minister (SACM) Hasaan Khawar revealed in a presser that the factory workers allegedly tortured the manager and the police reached the incident site as soon as they were informed regarding it.
“We will take action if police’s negligence is proved in the case,” he said. “The incident with the Sri Lankan factory manager was unfortunate,” the spokesman for the Punjab government said and added that a high-level inquiry has been ordered into it by the chief minister Punjab.
He further shared that nearly 50 people have been arrested over their alleged involvement in the entire episode as authorities are also looking into the CCTV footage to make further arrests.
