Tag: Sialkot Incident

  • Sri Lankan cricket legend Ranatunga thanks PM Khan for ensuring justice for Priyantha Kumara

    The former 1996 Cricket World Cup-winning Sri Lankan captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, thanked Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for his efforts to find all those involved in the lynching of Priyantha Kumara and his support for the deceased’s family.

    Sharing the letter he wrote to the premier, Arjuna tweeted, “Thank you for all your efforts in bringing justice for the crime committed against Priyantha Kumara, and for the continued support and commitment toward his family.”

    The letter reads, “You [Imran Khan] have always been unwavering in facing challenges whether it be on the cricket field or the political arena. Since you’ve become the prime minister of Pakistan, you have been carefully addressing some controversial issues in the country.”

    Earlier this month, 49-year-old Kumara, a manager at Rajco factory in Sialkot, was lynched by a mob. The mob tortured him to death and later burnt his body.

    Following the news, PM Khan condemned the incident and ensured the punishment of those who were involved.

    A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against 900 workers of Rajco Industries and several arrests have been made.

  • In Pictures: Priyantha Kumara buried in Sri Lanka with state honours

    In Pictures: Priyantha Kumara buried in Sri Lanka with state honours

    Sri Lankan manager, Priyantha Kumara, who was lynched and his body burnt by a mob in Sialkot on December 3, was buried in his native village in Sri Lanka on Wednesday with state honours.

    The Buddhist clergy performed his religious rituals before police led the procession along with Kumara’s family and friends. They carried a casket with his remains to the cemetery.

    Condolence banners and white flags that symbolise mourning were displayed along the roads.

    Buddhist Clerics are performing Religious Rituals
    The wife of Priyantha Kumara prays with children and family members during a funeral held in Srilanka

    Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan national was working as a manager in a factory located in Sialkot since 2010. He allegedly tore posters off a wall in the factory, which had religious text written on it. After taking down the poster, hundreds of people gathered, dragged him outside, killed him, and then burnt his body on Friday.

    The victim’s brother, Arunasiri Wasantha Kumara Diyawadana, who is also working in Pakistan at a garment factory as a technical director, said that factories should have a secure environment.

    He added, “That was not happening in this particular case.”

    He requested both governments to find the root cause of the incident, whether it is a religious or industrial dispute and they have to find the solution accordingly.

    Family members of Srilankan manager Priyantha Kumara carrying his casket to a cemetery during his burial in Colombo, Sri Lanka
    The mother of Priyantha Kumara crying in front of his casket
    Gavith, a son of Priyantha Kumara, places his father portrait on casket during burial
    The wife of Priyantha Kumura cries in front of his casket

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that from now on, no one will be spared who resorts to violence in the name of religion.

    PM Khan made these comments during an event that was being held to honor Malik Adnan who tried to save Kumura.

    The police have arrested more than 100 people involved, and one of the main culprits, Farhan Idrees has been arrested. Farhan gave an interview to local news channels, taking pride in the murder he committed.

  • ‘We are embarrassed’: Shoaib Malik condemns ‘violence’ in Sialkot, demands punishment for ‘culprits’

    ‘We are embarrassed’: Shoaib Malik condemns ‘violence’ in Sialkot, demands punishment for ‘culprits’

    Pakistan national cricketer Shoaib Malik, who belongs to Sialkot, has condemned the ‘violence’ in Sialkot by a mob.

    Taking to Twitter, the cricketer said: “My heartiest condolences, I stand with the family of the deceased & strongly condemn this act of violence.”

    He also said that what happened there should not have happened. The cricketer also demanded punishment for the culprits.

    He further added: “What happened, shouldn’t have happened, we are embarrassed. The culprits should be punished at the earliest… #Sialkot.”

    Former captain of Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi also expressed his thoughts, sharing a Quranic verse: “Whosoever kills a person … it shall be as if he has killed all mankind.”

    Similarly, Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez expressed his grief on Twitter.

    “Condemning horrific attack on a factory & shameful incident in Sialkot. As Pakistani i wil call it a black day for our society,” he wrote while adding hashtags of #Sialkot and #Justice.”

    The gut-wrenching incident took place on Sialkot’s Wazirabad Road, where workers of private factories brutally lynched a Sri Lankan national, Priyantha Kumara, on Friday.

    The nation was shell-shocked and disgusted when the Sri Lankan national was brutally lynched and his body was set on fire by the mob. The sickening incident outraged the nation as the civil and military leaders denounced it as “horrific” “shameful” and “extra-judicial vigilantism”.

    Several gruesome video clips shared on social media showed a mob beating the victim while chanting slogans against blasphemy.

    President Arif Alvi said the vigilante attack has nothing to do with religion as Prime Minister Imran Khan promised that those responsible “will be punished with the full severity of the law”.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted that the “horrific, vigilante attack” on the factory and the burning alive of the Sri Lankan man was “a day of shame for Pakistan”.

    “I am overseeing the investigations and, let there be no mistake, all those responsible will be punished with the full severity of the law. Arrests are in progress,” he added.

    Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar tweeted that he was “extremely shocked at the horrific Sialkot incident”.

    According to the latest updates, more than 100 people, including 13 of the main culprits have been arrested.

    Police is identifying all the culprits using CCTV footages.

    Meanwhile, the IG Punjab has ordered officials to submit a report within 48 hours.