At least 120 people have been arrested in connection with the beating to death of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Pakistan. The country’s officials said this information on Saturday. News AFP.
A mob stormed a factory on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck.
The public outcry over the brutal killings has sparked widespread criticism. Prime Minister Imran Khan has called the incident a day of shame for Pakistan.
Police spokesman Khurram Shehzad said 120 people had been arrested so far. Among them is the main accused. The arrest operation is still going on.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special envoy for religious harmony and religious leader Tahir Ashrafi has confirmed the arrest.
The “horrific” killings took place last Friday in Sialkot, an industrial city in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The deceased was identified as Priyantha Diawadna. The Sri Lankan national had been the manager of Rajko Industries, an industrial engineering company, for seven years.
The video, spread on social media, shows Priyantha being thrown to the floor. Hundreds of people are tearing his clothes. Violently beating him. His body was cremated after being beaten to death. Dozens of people were also seen taking pictures with his body.
The incident started from rumors. Rumor has it that Priyantha tore down a poster with religious message and threw it in the dustbin. After such allegations were made, the people became agitated and launched an attack.
Imran Khan tweeted condemning the incident. He said the horrific attack on a factory in Sialkot and the killing of a Sri Lankan manager was a shame for Pakistan. He himself is overseeing the investigation. Those responsible for this incident will be brought under the law and maximum punishment will be given.
The London-based human rights group Amnesty International has strongly condemned the incident. The group said in a statement that it was “deeply concerned” about the killing of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Sialkot on charges of insulting religion.
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