JAIPUR: With the NIA taking over the investigation into the brutal murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, it is now revealed that his killers are linked to Pakistan-based extremist group Dawat-e-Islami.
According to investigators, the two main accused in the murder, identified as Mohammad Riaz and Ghaus Mohammad, attacked and killed the victim to avenge the insult to Islam, when she allegedly attacked suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma. Posted on social media in support of Commentaries on the Prophet Muhammad have close links with Dawat-e-Islami, a religious movement based in Pakistan.
Dawat-e-Islami, a Sunni Muslim organization, claims to be a non-profit organization promoting the message of the Prophet Muhammad. It offers online courses in Islamic studies and also runs a television channel.
The group was founded by Maulana Ilyas Attari in 1981 in Karachi, Pakistan. Since then, it has spread to about 194 countries around the world.
Establishing further links between the killers and the Islamic group, investigators claim that one of the two accused arrested in the Udaipur incident, Mohammad Riaz, also uses the adjective attari in his name.
Amidst all this, today the NIA has taken over the investigation of the brutal murder in Udaipur, which has created fresh tension in the country.
The NIA registered a case under the Anti-Terrorism Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the “heinous murder” and claimed that the accused wanted to “spread terror among the public across the country”.
An agency spokesperson said that NIA teams have already reached Udaipur and necessary action has been initiated for speedy investigation of the case.
A video of the criminal act was also circulated on social media by the accused persons taking responsibility of the murder to spread panic and panic among the people across the country, he added.
He said that a case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and UA(P)A.
The case was initially registered at Dhanmandi police station in Udaipur. “NIA re-registered the case against the accused under sections 452, 302, 153 (A), 153 (B), 295 (A) and 34 of the IPC and sections 16, 18 and 20 of the UA (P) Act, 1967 Conspired, planned and executed the heinous murder of Shri Kanhaiya Lal Teli on 28.6.2022 in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
The spokesman said that both the accused had hurt the victim several times with sharp weapons.
Earlier this morning, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had said that the tailor’s murder was to spread terror in the country. According to news agency PTI, Gehlot also said that investigators have gathered important information suggesting that the killers of tailor Kanhaiya Lal have foreign links and investigation is being done from all angles.
The Rajasthan Chief Minister further informed that a case has been registered under UAPA and the matter is being thoroughly investigated by the NIA, adding that Rajasthan ATS will cooperate fully with the central agency. Sources said that Gehlot has also called an all-party meeting this evening to discuss the current arrangement.
Meanwhile, the BJP on Wednesday termed the killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur as a “terrorist attack” and accused the Congress government of being responsible for the incident. Addressing a press conference here, BJP spokesperson Rajyavardhan Rathore said that Lal’s killers filmed the incident and made the video viral in an attempt to terrorize the society.