SIALKOT: One of the two key suspects has admitted to their involvement in the torturing and killing of a Sri Lankan factory manager, it is learnt on Saturday.
During the initial interrogation, two suspects named Farhan and Talha admitted their role in the brutal attack on the foreign national, claimed the police.
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A day earlier, Sri Lankan national, Priyantha Kumara, who was working as a manager at a private factory on Wazirabad Road in Sialkot, was tortured to death by a mob over allegations of blasphemy before burning his body.
Briefing the media on the progress made so far, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Hasaan Khawar said as many as 118 people, including 13 key suspects, have been arrested in the cold-blooded murder.
Sources privy to the development said that the Punjab government has presented the initial investigation report in the horrific murder to the prime minister.
The police identified 13 key suspects involved in the attack with the help of the factory managers and shifted them to an unidentified place for further investigations. Those who incited the mob to attack the manager were also taken into custody by the police, the sources added.
Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Mohammad Basharat Raja said that the provincial government had taken strict action against the suspects involved in the incident. He maintained that the police were investigating all aspects related to this incident. Security of churches and foreign factory workers has been beefed up in Sialkot and its suburban areas, he added.
Initial probe report
As per the preliminary report, the conflict emerged when the Priyantha Kumara removed posters reportedly bearing the name of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) from the walls of the factory at 10:28. Meanwhile, the factory owner reached the spot and resolved the issue.
On the occasion, Kumara apologised for the misunderstanding.
After Kumara made an apology, the issue was resolved and the factory workers dispersed. Meanwhile, some of the workers incited their colleagues to attack the manager. After a few minutes, a mob attacked the Sri Lankan manager and killed him.
13 security guards were present at the factory when the horrific murder occurred at the factory on Friday. No security guard tried to rescue the Sri Lankan manager when the mob attacked him, said the report.
Kumara’s body was dragged outside the factory by the mob after killing him inside the industrial unit, said the police.
Police received a phone call at 11:28 about the incident, said the officials, adding that a police party reached the site within 12 minutes. Later, heavy contingents of police reached the crime scene to arrest the suspects.
‘Day of shame’
On Friday, PM Imran Khan, in a statement on Twitter, had termed the event a “horrific vigilante attack”, noting that the manager had been “burned alive”.
“The horrific vigilante attack at a factory in Sialkot and the burning alive of the Sri Lankan manager is a day of shame for Pakistan,” he had said.
The premier had said he was overseeing the investigations and let it be known that “all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law”.
“Arrests are in progress,” he had added.
‘Cold blooded murder’
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had issued a statement on behalf of Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa which termed the act a “cold-blooded murder”.
“The cold-blooded murder of Sri Lankan [national], Mr Priyantha Kumara, by a mob in Sialkot is extremely condemnable and shameful,” the statement had said.
“Such extrajudicial vigilantism cannot be condoned at any cost,” it had added.
