The Punjab police suspended the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and the station house officer (SHO) after they apparently failed to stop a mob from lynching a detainee in Nankana Sahib on Saturday.

“DSP Nankana Circle Nawaz Virk and Warburton police station SHO Feroz Bhatti have been immediately suspended,” said a police statement released on Twitter. The development came after Punjab Police Inspector General Usman Anwar took notice of the incident.

Several videos of the incident made rounds on social media, showing a mob gathering outside the Nakana Sahib police station. The man, reportedly a 35-year-old man, had been accused of desecrating the Holy Quran.

Muhammad Waris, a man in his early 20s, was taken into police custody after a mob attacked him for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran, police spokesman Muhammad Waqas told Reuters.

However, the mob stormed the station, located in the city of Nankana Sahib, took Waris out of the premises, beat him to death and attempted to set his body on fire, Waqas added.

“Police could not resist them because a handful of officials were present in the police station,” he said, adding that police reinforcements were able to stop the mob from setting the body alight, and were readying action against the crowd.

A video of the incident, shared on social media and confirmed as authentic by the police, showed a man being dragged through the streets by his legs, stripped of his clothes and being pummelled by sticks and metal rods.

Videos showed school children in the mob as well.

The IG further directed the Internal Accountability Branch Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Muhammad Amin Bukhari and Special Branch DIG Raja Faisal to reach the site of incident and submit an inquiry report.

“No one is allowed to take the law into their hands no matter how influential they are,” Punjab IG Anwar was quoted as saying.

“Strict departmental and legal action will be taken against those responsible for the incident, as well as the perpetrators of negligence and incompetence,” he added.

‘Mob wanted to set body on fire’

The enraged mob further wanted to set the body on fire after snatching the suspect from police custody, Sheikhupura RPO Babar Sarfaraz told reporters. But, he added the attempt was averted with the help of the police, aman (peace) committee, and others.

He shared some facts about the “sad” incident. The suspect was identified as Waris

“You are aware of the basic facts that the person had made a similar offence in 2019 when he was arrested by the police and was released in June 2022. The same person today [Saturday] made the same offence today related to the desecration. The people of the neighbourhood and others, who saw, caught him and tortured him,” the RPO said.

The police were informed about the incident at 7am or 7:20am. Sarfaraz claimed that the police “immediately” responded to the call and the available reinforcement, including the SHO, reached there, amidst this the number of people increased in the neighbourhood. He added that youngsters and an enraged mob had gathered because of a similar offence committed by the suspect in the past.

Sarfaraz said that the mob followed them when they took the suspect in the custody from them. But, the mob moved forward forced their way into the police station with the help of a ladder, and crossed the gate and walls of the police station.

“They snatched the suspect from the police and again tortured him to death. They were trying to set fire to the body but it was averted with the help of the police and the Aman Committee and others and then the people dispersed,” he said.

When asked about those who attacked the police station, the RPO said that law would take its course. The police were looking at all the factors to identify the culprits behind the attack and take necessary action.

“Definitely law will take its course,” he reiterated.

He was of the view that definitely the onus of the responsibility lies on the police.

To another query on any lapse, he said that the police tried to bring maximum reinforcement from all police stations, even mayor’s office, as it was an early morning incident. “But this incident occurred due to the time factor in it. But it is in front of you that the people were enraged.”

PM Shehbaz takes notice

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the “extra-judicial killing” and called for an investigation into the incident, the PM Office Media Wing said.

“Rule of law should be ensured and no one should be allowed to influence the law,” he said and wondered why the relevant police force “failed” to prevent the mob from lynching a man in the city.

The premier added that those tasked to maintain law and order should give priority to such a responsibility.

As many as 89 citizens were killed in 1,415 accusations and cases of blasphemy in the country since independence, according to the Centre for Research and Security Studies report released on January 25, 2022.

A mob in Sialkot tortured a Sri Lankan citizen to death before burning his body over allegations of blasphemy and blocked the Wazirabad Road on December 3, 2021. Six men were sentenced to death for lynching the Sri Lankan garment factory manager in a mass trial that involved some 89 suspects after the matter sparked national and global outrage.