Priyantha's murder in Sialkot: 'Some people in the factory became silent spectators, others wanted to kill them'
Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan national who was killed by a mob in Sialkot, Punjab province, was rescued by a few of her comrades inside the convoy.
Eyewitnesses at the factory said that at least four of Priyantha's accomplices, who had been killed for blasphemy, had risked their lives to stand up to the angry mob. However, their efforts were not successful.
According to an eyewitness at the scene, when Priyantha's four companions were risking their lives to save her, Priyantha's life could have been saved if more help had been provided.
When police were contacted about the incident, they did not repond. It may be recalled that the police have registered a case against the accused under the provisions of terrorism while so far more than 100 persons have been arrested.
The FIR alleges that Priyantha was dragged away by the mob on Wazirabad Road. The police officer on the spot tried to stop them but could not because of lack of personnel.
The report said that Priyantha's body was set on fire on the road while eight to nine hundred angry people were responsible for the incident.
What happened on the spot?
Engineer Priyantha had been working as an export manager in this factory in Sialkot since 2012.
The Punjab government's preliminary investigation report said that some employees of the factory were dissatisfied with the factory manager for his discipline and taking work. According to the report, a delegation of some foreign companies was to visit the factory. The Sri Lankan factory manager ordered a thorough cleaning of the machines and asked them to remove religious stickers from the machines. The report states that when the factory employees did not remove the sticker, the manager himself removed it.
An eyewitness at the factory on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that when the mob became enraged, the Sri Lankan manager was tortured inside the factory. On this occasion, his four companions tried to convince the angry crowd but they were not heard.
According to eyewitnesses, on this occasion, they somehow tried to take the four Priyanthas to a safe place in the factory. During this time, the police were repeatedly called for help.
''Sometimes they tried to hide Priyantha in one office and sometimes in another, but not one of them escaped in front of the angry mob''.
''Some were silent spectators, others wanted to kill them''.
According to an eyewitness, the four of them suggested that if Priyantha was somehow brought to the roof, they might survive. There they could be hidden somewhere.
Eyewitnesses could not say how many companions had taken Priyantha to the roof, but they say she was somehow brought to the roof.
But unfortunately the situation was that at that time there were only four in the party who wanted to save Priyantha's life.''Some had become completely silent spectators and others wanted to kill them''.
Priyantha's presence on the roof could not be kept secret and the angry mob reached the roof. Here, a comrade stood in front of the angry mob to save them and kept trying to keep them safe by risking his life.
But then the enraged people dragged Priyantha away. According to eyewitnesses, he was alive up to the roof of the factory.
A video has also gone viral on social media of the occasion in which it can be seen that a person is trying to save them.
Provincially Law Minister Raja Basharat told that there was no negligence on the part of the local police in the matter and police arrived at the scene 20 minutes after receiving the report.
All four people trying to save Priyantha were also injured. He is out of the limelight at a time when his family is feeling threatened.
Expressing solidarity with Priyantha in Sialkot
A camp has been set up outside the Secretariat of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce to pay homage to Priyantha, where a large number of businessmen, citizens and members of civil society laid flowers and paid homage to Priyantha.
Mian Akbar, president of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that December 3 was the darkest day in the city's history.
According to Mian Akbar, he has personally investigated the incident which revealed that Priyantha was a highly professional production manager who did not compromise on his work and quality. His ability was "beyond any doubt."
He said that he was with Priyantha's family in this difficult time.