A Hindu shopkeeper was murdered in broad daylight in Udaipur on Tuesday, sparking tensions in the city. The shopkeeper, named Kanhaiya Lal, was murdered by two Muslim men who chopped his head off and later recorded a video admitting to killing the man over a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma.
The police arrested the two accused from the Bheem area of Rajsamand district on Tuesday night. The accused were caught while they were trying to flee. It has been learned that this gruesome murder followed a post put up by the shopkeeper’s eight-year-old son in support of BJP leader Nupur Sharma. Nupur Sharma was recently in the news for her allegedly controversial statements about Prophet Muhammad.
On Tuesday, a shocking video emerged on social media showing two men entering a tailor’s shop in Udaipur and started attacking him with knives. In another video posted by the duo, they are being heard admitting to the murder and threatening to kill PM Modi as well.
In a third video, recorded on June 17, and which soon emerged after the murder on Tuesday, one of the two men is heard describing his intentions of carrying out an act similar to what took place in Udaipur on Tuesday. These videos are highly objectionable and provocative, hence we have decided to refrain from posting them here.
It has been learned that Kanhaiya Lal was receiving life threats from radical Islamists for the last few days. He did even report this to the police, but they didn’t help him. Kanhaiya Lal was so terrified that he didn’t open his shop for the last 6 days.
Massive tension in Udaipur
As expected, the murder sparked tensions in Udaipur. Thousands of people have staged protests and demanded that killers should be hanged so that such an act does not happen again. In protest against the killing, the locals have closed shops in the Maldas Gali area after the incident.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appealing for calm. “I condemn the heinous murder of a youth in Udaipur. Strict action will be taken against all the criminals involved in this incident and the police will go to the bottom of the crime. I appeal to all parties to maintain peace.”
How did it happen?
The post on social media was posted 10 days ago i.e. on June 18. On June 18 itself, WhatsApp status was put on the mobile of the deceased Kanhaiyalal. He had been receiving threats since he posted the status. Today, between 3 pm and 3:30 pm, the Muslim youth came to the shop of tailor Kanhaiyalal.
He first engaged in the conversation with them, then said that the clothes have to be measured. As soon as Kanhaiyalal turned around while taking the measurement of the accused, the accused attacked him with a sharp weapon from behind. The deceased, Kanhaiyalal, died on the spot.
Angry Hindus took to the streets after Kanhaiyalal’s death. After the incident, police from Dhanmandi and Ghantaghar police stations rushed to the spot and kept the body in the mortuary of MB Hospital. Due to the tense atmosphere in Udaipur, the internet was shut down for 24 hours.
Centre Treating Udaipur Killing As ‘Terror’ Incident; Sends NIA Team
The Centre is treating the gruesome killing of a tailor in Udaipur as a terror attack and dispatched a team of the anti-terror probe agency NIA on Tuesday night, officials said. Prima-facie it looks like a terror attack, an official said on condition of anonymity.
The case is likely to be handed over to the NIA for probe after the registration of a case under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The men who allegedly carried out the daylight murder and posted videos online admitting to the crime were taken into custody by police.
BJP slams Congress rule in Rajasthan
Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia hit out at the Ashok Gehlot-led government in the state and alleged that the incident was a result of the “appeasement policy of the CM and the Congress.”
What kind of government is this Ashok Ji, where Kanhaiya Lal does not have the freedom to support anyone but Mohammad Riyaz has the freedom to kill? Riyaz has also shown violent feelings towards the Prime Minister. Riyaz should be taken into custody immediately and his terrorist links should be investigated,” Satish Poonia tweeted.
He added, “Today’s incident in Udaipur proves that Hindu is not safe anywhere under Congress’ Ashok Gehlot’s rule. It is the result of the appeasement policy of the Chief Minister and the Congress that the criminals are raised in spirit and the fear of law has ended.”
BJP LEader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore slammed the Congress government and termed their rule as a Taliban rule.
Reacting to the incident, BJP leader Amit Malviya said, “Two Muslim men behead Kanhaiya Lal, a Hindu shopkeeper, inside his shop in Udaipur. They then release a video of the act and another owning up to the crime, brandishing machetes used and vowing to kill Prime Minister Modi. Ashok Gehlot, however, has promised a “thorough” investigation…”
Rajasthan Govt formed an SIT to probe the incident
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising SOG ADG Ashok Kumar Rathore, ATS IG Prafulla Kumar, one SP, and Additional SP, has been constituted to investigate the Udaipur matter.
Meanwhile, internet services have been suspended across Rajasthan for 24 hours after the incident, and Section 144 has been imposed in the state for a month.
