Arguna Ranatunga, former World Cup-winning Sri Lankan skipper and a cricket legend appreciated Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s efforts to find all those involved in the lynching of a Sri Lankan man in Sialkot earlier this month and his support for the deceased’s family.
The Sri Lankan legend thanked the PM Khan this week for his actions in this tragic incident.
“Thank you for all your efforts in bringing justice for the crime committed against Priyantha Diyawadanage, and for the continued support and commitment toward his family,” he tweeted.
Priyantha Kumara, a 49-year-old Sri Lankan factory manager, was lynched by a mob of hundreds of protesters, including the employees of the factory, on December 3, 2021. The mob tortured Priyantha to death and later burnt his body.
A first information report was registered against 900 workers of Rajco Industries on the application of Uggoki Station House Officer Armaghan Maqt under sections 302, 297, 201, 427, 431, 157, 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code and 7 and 11WW of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Scores of the suspects were arrested in the following days.
The incident saw widespread outrage and condemnation across Pakistan with politicians, scholars and civil society members calling for swift punishment to be meted out to the perpetrators.
Reacting to the “horrific vigilante attack”, Prime Minister Imran Khan had termed it a day of shame for Pakistan. “I am overseeing the investigations & let there be no mistake all those responsible will be punished with full severity of the law. Arrests are in progress,” he had tweeted.
