One of the two prime accused in the brutal killing of a tailor in Udaipur has links with the Pakistan-based organisation Dawat-e-Islami and had visited Karachi in 2014, the Rajasthan Police chief said on Wednesday.
A day after the brutal murder of Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli in Udaipur by two radical Muslims, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe into the terror incident from the Rajasthan Police.
The police have detained three more people in connection with the killing so far, Director General of Police (DGP) ML Lather said at a press conference in Jaipur.
“One of the accused, Ghouse Mohammad, has links with the Karachi-based Ismalist organisation Dawat-e-Islami. He had visited Karachi in 2014. So far, we have detained five people, including the two prime accused,” Lather said.
Meanwhile, a policeman was slashed with a sword during a protest march in Rajsamand district’s Bhim town, where police used tear gas to stop a stone-pelting mob from advancing towards a mosque.
In Udaipur, hundreds took part in a funeral procession for Kanhaiya Lal .
Stones were hurled at a burial ground and some people tried to vandalise its gate as the procession passed by.
Elsewhere in Rajasthan, markets were closed in Sojat (Pali), Bhinmal and Sanchore (Jalore) and Reodar (Sikar) in protest over the Udaipur murder.
Two men, identified as Riaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad, allegedly hacked Kanhaiya Lal to death with a cleaver at his shop in Udaipur on Tuesday and posted videos online saying they are avenging an insult to Islam.
The duo was taken into custody on Tuesday and booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the various sections of IPC, the police chief said.
When asked whether both the accused had links with Dawat-e-Islami, Lather said that it cannot be ruled out as both of them were equally involved.
Lather said that looking into all the perspectives and on directions of the Chief Minister, it was considered as act of terror, so investigation was started after registering a case under the UAPA.
Lather said Ghouse Mohammad in 2014 had visited Dawat-e-Islami, Karachi. The outfit has its offices in Mumbai and Delhi, he said.
Detained accused Riaz works as a welder and Ghouse is into some petty works. “It is also found that the distinct weapon used to hack Kanhaiya was made by Riaz around four-five years ago,” said the DGP.
On the trans-border connection of the two prime accused, he said all digital evidence is being looked into.
A case has been lodged under IPC sections 302, 452, 153 (A), 153(B), 295(A) and 34, and sections 16, 18 and 20 of UAPA, 1967. Lather also said a case was lodged against Kanhaiya Lal on June 10 by one Nazim at Dhan Mandi police station over an alleged objectionable post hurting sentiments of a community.
On June 11, Kanhaiya was arrested and released on bail the next day, he said.
On June 15, Kanhaiya filed a complaint at the police station that four-five people were following him and his life was in danger. The SHO failed to assess the gravity of the situation and effective action was not taken on the Kanhaiya’s complaint, the State police chief said, adding the issue was resolved amicably without any legal action. “The assistant sub-inspector was suspended yesterday, and today the SHO has been suspended for negligence,” he said.
Meanwhile, a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrived in Udaipur, he said, adding the case has been transferred to the NIA and the State police will assist them.
“The NIA registers a case in the incident of brutal murder of Kanhaiya Lal Teli in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The NIA has re-registered a case RC- 27/2022/NIA/DLI on 29/06/2022 under Sections 452 (house trespass after having made preparation for causing hurt and assault, 302 (murder), 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of caste, religion and place of birth), 153 (B) (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national interest), 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class) and 34 (acts done by several persons for furtherance of common intention) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 16, 18 and 20 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 against the accused who have conspired, planned and committed the heinous murder of Kanhaiya Lal Telli on 28.6.2022 in Udaipur, Rajasthan,” the agency said in a statement.
“The accused persons had also circulated a video of the criminal act on social media claiming responsibility for the murder in order to trigger panic and strike terror among the masses across the country. Pursuant to the registration of the case, NIA teams have already reached Udaipur and requisite action for expeditious investigation of the case has already been initiated,” it further said.
The security agencies, according to insiders, also did not act on the Pakistan-based terror seminary Haqqania University vice chancellor addressing an online gathering in Darul Uloom Deoband as reported earlier by The Pioneer.