Murder of Udaipur: The Center has transferred the case to the NIA.
Udaipur:
Weeks before his gruesome murder on camera, Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal had complained about death threats via a social media post in support of BJP leader Nupur Sharma, whose commentary on the prophet Mohammed had sparked protests in India and condemnation of the Gulf states.
Kanhaiya Lal was arrested on June 10 after a complaint against him about the post. Five days after he was released on bail, he told police that he had been threatened and harassed. Police brokered sessions between the tailor and those who allegedly threatened him, along with senior community leaders from both sides, and the matter was deemed resolved. Kanhaiya Lal has given a written statement to the police that no further action is needed. Then the threats started again.
The police inspector who received Kanhaiya’s complaint and oversaw the mediation has been suspended. Police are questioning community leaders who intervened to bring about peace at the time.
“All parties and community leaders have been called to the police station and the matter has been resolved,” senior police official Hawa Singh Ghumariya said.
“The police will also investigate other people involved. We are investigating the role of the community leaders who tried to bring about peace,” he added.
Kanhaiya Lal, 48, was murdered in his shop on Tuesday afternoon by two men, Gos Mohammad and Riyaz Akhtari, who filmed and rejoiced at the crime in a video, and also threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two were arrested when they tried to escape on a bicycle, their faces covered in helmets.
The Center has handed the case over to the National Counter-Terrorism Bureau and is treating the murder as a terror attack.
Kanjaiya Lal, a father of two sons, had avoided this store because of the threats, his wife said. He had gone to his shop yesterday after a week.
Gos Mohammad and Riyaz Akhtari entered Kanhaiya Lal’s shop and pretended to be customers. A video shot by them shows the tailor measuring one of the men, who suddenly attacks him with a cleaver. Police said they tried to behead the tailor, but were unsuccessful.
Protests erupted over the killing yesterday, after which the state government ordered a curfew in parts of Rajasthan and shut down internet and large gatherings for a month.
