Tailor Killed for ‘Supporting’ Nupur Sharma: NIA En Route to Udaipur, 2 Arrested
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot appealed for peace following the incident. Section 144 has been imposed across the state.
A man was killed in broad daylight on Tuesday, 28 June, in Udaipur's Maldas street, after he published a social media post allegedly supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's remarks.
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team has been dispatched by the Union Home Ministry to probe the killing of a man in Rajasthan's Udaipur for allegedly supporting suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma's remarks against Prophet Muhammad.
The two persons accused of killing the man, a tailor, on Udaipur's Maldas street on Tuesday, 28 June, have been arrested in Rajasmand, Rajasthan.
The tailor had allegedly published a social media post supporting former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma's remarks against Prophet Muhammad.
The two men who claimed to be the murderers, namely Gaus Mohammad and Mohammad Riyaz Akhtari, posted a video message later in the day and sent out a threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The two accused after they were arrested.
A Special Investigative Team (SIT), comprising Additional Director General of Police (Special Operations Group) Ashok Kumar Rathore, Inspector-General of Police (Anti-Terrorism Squad) Prafulla Kumar, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and an Additional SP, has been constituted to investigate the matter.
What Do We Know So Far?
On 17 June, one of the men who claimed responsibility for the murder published a video indicating that he would be committing the crime.
In that video, the alleged killer had said that his video would go viral on the day he commits the murder.
On Tuesday, 28 June, the video of the brutal act also surfaced on social media. After the incident occurred, the accused persons made another video in which they threatened PM Modi.
The Quint has decided not to show the video of the incident, as the visuals could be disturbing and used to incite communal violence.
Senior Officers, 600 Police Personnel Deployed to Udaipur: Official
A statewide alert has been issued to all superintendents of police and inspectors general to increase the mobility of police forces and ensure the heavy presence of officers on the ground.
"The entire police force is on alert. Along with senior officers, we have deployed around 600 police personnel in Udaipur, and more will be sent," said Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Hawa Singh Ghumria.
He also urged people not to watch the video of the incident.
CM Gehlot Condemns Murder
Reacting to the incident, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot urged people to maintain peace and not to share the video of the act.
"I condemn the heinous murder of a youth in Udaipur. Strict action will be taken against the criminals involved in this incident. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and not share the video of the act," he also tweeted in Hindi.
Gehlot also confirmed the arrest of the accused, and appealed for peace.
"Both the persons accused of murdering a youth in Udaipur have been arrested from Rajsamand. The investigation in this case will be done under the Case Officer Scheme. By ensuring a speedy investigation, the criminals will be punished severely in court. I again appeal to everyone to maintain peace," he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Section 144 Imposed Across Rajasthan, Internet Suspended
Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed in the entire state for one month.
Earlier, curfew was imposed in several parts of Udaipur, namely Dhanmandi, Ghantaghar, Hathipol, Ambamata, Surajpol, Bhupalpura, and Savina.
The incident also sparked protests in Udaipur, with all the shops in Maldas street pulling down their shutters.
Shops were shut after the murder took place.
(With inputs from PTI.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)