Assam Man Arrested for ‘Supporting’ Udaipur Tailor’s Murder

The man was charged with UAPA for allegedly supporting the brutal Udaipur killing in a comment on social media.

Udaipur Tailor Murder: Assam man arrested. (this is a representational image only)

(Photo: iStock)

A man was arrested in Assam's Hailakandi district on Thursday, 30 June, for a comment on a social media platform allegedly supporting the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, according to police sources, reported PTI.

A case was filed against the man – Samsul Laskar – under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, as well as the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after a police complaint was lodged against him by Hailakandi's Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president Milan Das.

The complaint accuses Laskar of making the comment as a response to a post that demanded capital punishment for the murderers of Kanhaiya Lal, said the police.

Noida Man Arrested for Praising Accused

On Thursday, Noida police also arrested a resident of Chhaprauli village in Noida sector 168 for allegedly praising the brutal murder.

The accused – who has been identified as Aasif Khan – posted a comment under a video of news portal discussing the Udaipur killing, on Facebook.

His comment read 'bohot badhiya kiya mere bhai (well done my brother)’. Screenshot of the same ware circulated in the village, after which they registered a complaint against Khan late Wednesday night, the police said.

Khan has been charged under section 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage reli­gious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or reli­gious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code.

On Thursday morning, Surajpur district court granted 14-day remand, as sought by Noida police and Khan has been sent to Luksar Jail, the police added.

The Incident in Udaipur

On 28 June, a tailor in Udaipur, Kanhaiya Lal was brutally murdered by two men – identified as Riaz Akhtair and Ghouse Mohammad – over Lal supporting former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma's remarks against Prophet Muhammad on social media.

The two were arrested on the same day and transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) where the case is being investigated.

Since the incident, there has been widespread unrest in the city, and several top police officers in Rajasthan have been suspended or transfered on grounds of negligence.

(Written with inputs from PTI.)