Hindu tailor murdered in gruesome hate crime
JAIPUR: Two Muslim men hacked to death an Udaipur tailor on Tuesday afternoon, capturing the act on their phones, and later issuing a threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi while posing proudly with the knives used in the killing in a hate crime that has shocked the country.
The Rajasthan police moved swiftly to arrest the men, but the question remained was to why the victim, Kanhaiya Lal, 47, who received threats 13 days ago and informed the police about them, was not provided security.
The two killers, Mohammad Riyaz Akhtari and Gaus Mohammad were arrested around 7.30pm from the Bheem area in Rajsamand, about 160km from Udaipur. According to the police, Riyaz works at a mosque and is also involved in religious propaganda, and Mohammad runs a grocery store. Both live in the Surajpole area of Udaipur.
“The guilty will not be spared. Entire police team is working on it with full alertness. I can imagine the anger which is there among people due to the murder. We are taking action accordingly,” chief minister Ashok Gehlot said. The state government setup a special investigation team led by ADG, SOG Ashok Rathore, and ATS IG Praful Kumar, a SP and an additional SP, officials said.
Protests broke out across the city of Udaipur after the killing, which happened around 2.30pm, even as the Rajasthan government suspended Internet services, and leaders in the state and across the country appealed for calm. Late on Tuesday evening, the National Investigation Agency sent a team to Udaipur and there was speculation that it could take over investigation into what was clearly a case of domestic terrorism. Senior officials in Delhi said this could happen even if the state does not give consent and added that it is clear that the killing is a case of violent extremism and that it has caused panic among the public.
The Rajasthan government has banned internet services across the state till Wednesday evening, and imposed Section 144 in all 33 districts, which means more than four people will not be allowed to gather at one place. It also cancelled leave of all police personnel and officers. The state’s chief secretary has also asked that the video clips are not circulated.
According to officials investigating the case, Lal put out a message supporting suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who commented on Prophet Mohammed in a TV debate (which caused her suspension). After complaints from some members of the Muslim community, he was picked up by the police, but released after a day. He then complained about receiving threats to the police and shut his shop for six
days, finally opening for business on Tuesday. It wasn’t immediately clear whether his killers were the people who threatened him.
On Tuesday , after entering Lal’s shop, Akhtari and Gaus posed as customers; Lal even took their measurements; and the video of the killing shows the two men then attacking him. The hacking can’t be seen, although Lal can be heard screaming in pain.
The killers also posted a second video showing them lounging on a sofa, brandishing their knives. Threatening the Prime Minister, Riyaz said that their knife will get him as well.