Umesh Kolhe was killed by two males on a bike, who slit his throat.
New Delhi:
Final month’s grotesque killing of a chemist in Maharashtra’s Amravati for defending a controversial social media put up towards Prophet Muhammad was “an act of terror”, authorities sources have mentioned, including that the position of terrorists with overseas hyperlinks, “self-inspired” by ISIS, is being probed.
The Nationwide Investigation Company (NIA) on Wednesday carried out searches at 13 areas in Maharashtra in reference to the killing of chemist Umesh Kolhe. In its First Info Report (FIR), the company has referred to as it “an act of terror to terrorise a piece of individuals”.
Pamphlets spreading hate messages and knives had been discovered within the searches from the premises of the accused, sources mentioned. Seven folks had been arrested by the police earlier than the case was taken over by the central anti-terrorism company.
“Easter bombings in Sri Lanka had been additionally self-inspired by ISIS, and it looks as if this gang was additionally self-inspired by ISIS,” a senior official advised NDTV, requesting to not be named.
In accordance with him, the NIA, in its searches, additionally recovered digital gadgets together with cellphones, SIM playing cards, reminiscence playing cards, digital video recorders, and different incriminating paperwork and supplies.
The NIA can be investigating whether or not the case is a part of a nationwide conspiracy or has roots overseas.
Umesh Kolhe was killed on June 21 by two males on a bike, who slit his throat, allegedly for sending a WhatsApp message through which he had supported former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma who made objectionable remarks towards Prophet Muhammad.
The incident happened every week earlier than Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor in Rajasthan’s Udaipur, was killed equally at his store by two males, who posted a video of the homicide and mentioned that they had been avenging an insult to Islam, for the same social media put up.
The NIA’s FIR has listed Mudassir Ahmed, Shahrukh Pathan, Abdul Thoufik, Shoaib Khan, Atib Rashid, Yusuf Khan, Shahim Ahmed and Irfan Khan as accused together with unknown others. All seven accused are within the custody of NIA.
