BENGALURU: A man was lynched by a mob in Karnataka for reportedly shouting “Pakistan Zindabad” during a local cricket match, according to a confirmation from Karnataka’s Interior Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference, the minister stated that the man, whose identity remains unknown, was attacked by a group of spectators after allegedly chanting pro-Pakistan slogans.
“A mob lynching was reported, however, the identity of the victim could not be ascertained,” he said in a video statement shared by the Press Trust of India.
“He was rooting for Pakistan during a local cricket match while shouting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’,” Parameshwara said, adding that the individual succumbed to shock-related complications after the assault. “He didn’t die on the spot, he died later because of the shock.”
The incident took place last week amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir that left 26 people dead, mostly tourists. India has accused Pakistan of backing the attackers without presenting evidence, while Islamabad has denied involvement and called for a neutral probe.
So far, 10 to 12 suspects have been arrested in connection with the lynching, and further investigations are underway. The minister urged the public not to take the law into their own hands. “We will definitely take this very seriously because such incidents should never occur anywhere,” he said. “If anyone commits an offence, they should be handed over to police, not punished by the public.”
Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal described the incident as a “brutal and unprecedented attack,” according to India Today. He said the victim received extensive injuries and died due to lack of timely medical attention.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the victim was from Karnataka or from another state.
