Pakistani police have booked at least 800 people under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the torture and killing of Sri Lankan factory manager Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana in Sialkot.
The key suspect Farhan Idrees, has been detained.
Hundreds of people armed with sticks and batons were present inside the factory at the time of the murder yesterday (03).
After the murder, the mob dragged his body on the streets, the police said, adding that it failed to stop the crowd due to a lack of strength.
Many in the mob made no attempt to hide their identity and some took selfies in front of the burning corpse.
As per the initial investigation, the police said that the Sri Lanka citizen was killed over allegations of blasphemy.
They added that they were investigating the matter from all angles.
Meanwhile, an initial report of the incident has been submitted to Prime Minister Imran Khan by the Punjab Police.
As per the report, at least 112 suspects have been detained who were identified with the help of the factory managers.
The provocateurs have been arrested as well.
The detained suspects have been moved to unknown locations, they said, adding that investigation was still underway.
Separately, the body of the deceased has been handed over to the police after post-mortem for legal formalities.
President Arif Alvi said the vigilante attack has nothing to do with religion, while Prime Minister Imran Khan promised that those responsible “will be punished with the full severity of the law”.
