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Updated 14 Feb, 2022 02:05pm

Police arrest six more prime suspects in Khanewal incident

Punjab Police, on Monday, arrested six more prime suspects during the Khanewal incident investigation, bringing the tally to 21, as Prime Minister Imran Khan had called for "zero tolerance" for anyone taking the law into their hands and vowed that mob lynchings would be dealt with the "full severity of the law."

So far 102 people -- including 21 prime suspects -- have been arrested, according to the Government of Punjab and police update on Twitter. They added that secret search operations were under way to nab culprits involved in the incident.

A charged mob on Saturday night lynched a man over alleged desecration of the Holy Quran in a remote village of Punjab's Khanewal district. The middle-aged man, who is said to be "mentally ill", was tied to a tree and then beaten with bricks. The horrific video of the incident was making rounds on social media, with users demanding the government to take action.

The Khanewal incident, which reminded the nation of the Sialkot tragedy from December 2021, when a Sri Lankan manager was lynched by his factory workers on blasphemy accusations. The incident received widespread condemnation from Prime Minister Imran Khan and federal ministers.

There were calls for strict action and reforms in the country's education sector, jail, and religious schools.

According to the FIR, which was shared by CM Punjab Updates Twitter account, the case registered under Sections 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly of people), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 302 (intentional murder) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

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