National Investigation Agency set to visit crime spot, raising the possibility of anti-terror agency being handed over the probe…reports Asian Lite News
The entire state of Rajasthan has been put on alert, internet suspended for 24 hours and large gatherings have been banned for a month after a tailor was murdered in Udaipur in connection to the row over the Prophet Muhammad controversy. The government has also moved in 600 extra troops in and around Udaipur and curfew has been declared in parts of the city.
Kanhaiya Lal was stabbed multiple times and his throat was slit by two men who had come to his shop.
The murder was filmed by the attackers who bragged in the video about the killing and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the video, the tailor is seen measuring one of the attackers for a garment and the attack began soon after.
The killing has spiked tension in Udaipur and across the state. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and other leaders have appealed for peace.
“I appeal to everyone not to spoil the atmosphere by sharing the video of this incident. By sharing the video, the criminal’s purpose of spreading hatred in the society will be successful,” Gehlot said.
The police also requested that the video not be shared. Senior police officer Hawasingh Ghumaria, the Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, asked the media not to broadcast the video because of its highly inflammatory content.
Kanhaiya Lal had apparently expressed support on social media for the former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who triggered a huge controversy at home and abroad with her provocative comments on Prophet Mohammed.
NIA team to visit crime spot
Meanwhile, a team of the elite National Investigation Agency (NIA) is all set to visit the crime spot in the Lake City. A source said that there are possibilities that the case might be handed over to the anti-terror agency.
“We suspect that some terror groups might be involved in the incident. The accused could have been in touch with some militant outfits. To probe these angles, a team of NIA is likely to visit Udaipur,” said the source.
The source added that after taking over the probe, the agency is likely to lodge a fresh case, which is being seen as a threat to national security.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan police on Tuesday evening arrested two persons for the gruesome killing in Udaipur, Director General of Police, M.L. Lather.
Rahul, Priyanka slam incident
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that brutality in the name of religion cannot be tolerated.
“I am deeply shocked by the heinous murder in Udaipur. Brutality in the name of religion cannot be tolerated. Those who spread terror by this cruelty should be punished immediately,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi reacting to the Udaipur incident.
Appealing to maintain the peace, he wrote in the same tweet in Hindi, “We all have to defeat hate together. I appeal to all, please maintain peace and brotherhood.”
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi also condemned the gruesome incident. She said that condemnation is not enough for this incident.
“Whatever the condemnation be for this violent incident is less. The culprits should get the hardest of the punishment. The designs that spread hatred and violence in the name of religion are fatal for our country and society,” she tweeted in Hindi. “Together we have to strengthen efforts for peace and non-violence,” she added.
Owaisi condemns killing
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, condemning the brutal murder said that there can be no justification for the murder in the name of religion. He said that his party’s consistent stand is to oppose any form of violence and that no one can take the law into their own hands. He also demanded that the state government takes the strictest possible action against the perpetrators of the crime.
Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted, “I condemn the gruesome murder in Udaipur Rajasthan. There can be no justification for it. Our party’s consistent stand is to oppose such violence. No one can take law in their own hands. We demand that the state govt takes strictest possible action. Rule of law must be upheld.”
Accused had warned
It was a murder foretold. On June 17, eleven days before Mohammad Riyaz Akhtari was to hack 47-year-old Kanhaiya Lal to death and proudly take responsibility for the killing in a viral video, he had warned that he would do just that. And urged others to follow his lead once he committed the first murder.
On that day, dressed in a cream kurta and a green turban across his head, Akhtari began a 2 minute 33 second video, identifying himself by name, the date, and his location of Khanjipith. The video began with a promise. Akhtari said that he would make the video he was currently recording “viral” on the day he killed those that had committed an offence against Islam.
Riyaz then goes on to say that while he will begin the process of murder, those that are left in “Sector 11”, others will have to do. Lal lived in Udaipur’s Sector 11. “Don’t worry brother, about what will happen to family, what will happen to your business. I also have a family, and I have a job. I have no worries about,” he said.
Asking others to follow his lead, he asks them to not be afraid. “If death comes, it is heaven. If we go to jail, there is no worry,” he said.
A relative of Riyaz said that he originally hailed from Bhilwara, but left the district for Dubai in 2002. “Since then, he hasn’t returned,” the relative said.
Officials said that Gaus Mohammed, who had filmed the attack on Kanhaiya Lal and then appeared in the video claiming responsibility for the attack waving a knife, ran a grocery shop.
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