Another gruesome murder in India suspected over Nupur Sharma post, this time in Maharashtra

WHILE India is yet to overcome the shock caused by gruesome murder of a tailor in a busy market area in broad daylight in Udaipur in the north-western state of Rajasthan earlier this week, another similar incident has been reported and this time, it is Amravati in the western state of Maharashtra which has come under the scanner.

A 54-year-old man, a chemist by profession, was hacked to death for allegedly making a social media post supporting Nupur Sharma, a former member of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who made controversial remarks about Prophet Muhammad on a live television show in May, India Today reported.

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Kanhaiya Lal, the ill-fated tailor in Rajasthan, was also murdered for allegedly backing Sharma.

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The victim in Maharashtra, identified as Prahladrao Kolhe, was reportedly killed on June 21, a week before Lal was butchered.

Local BJP leaders submitted a letter to the police over Kolhe’s killing, alleging that he was killed to “take revenge and set an example”.

Police confirmed the same to Aaj Tak/India Today saying they were investing the matter. A report was also lodged and six people were arrested, the cops added.

“Kolhe ran a medical store in Amravati city. He had allegedly shared a post on some WhatsApp groups in support of Nupur Sharma for her comments. He even mistakenly shared the post in a WhatsApp group in which some Muslims were also members, including his customers,” an official of the City Kotwali police station told Press Trust of India.

The Indian home affairs ministry said a National Investigation Team (NIA) team reached Amravati and would take over the investigation. The team was reportedly examining the matter and taking details from the Maharashtra Police.

“MHA (ministry of home affairs) has handed over the investigation of the case relating to the barbaric killing of Umesh Kolhe in Amravati to NIA. The conspiracy behind the killing, involvement of organisations and international linkages would be thoroughly investigated,” the ministry said in a tweet.

Kolhe’s murder occurred between 10 pm and 10.30 pm on June 21. The victim was going home on a two-wheeler after shutting his shop, it was learnt, while his son Sanket (27) and wife Vaishnavi were going on a different vehicle.

“When all of them reached near Mahila College's gate, two motorcycle-borne men came from behind and blocked Kolhe's path. A youth alighted from the motorcycle and stabbed Kolhe on his neck with a sharp weapon and escaped from the spot. Kolhe collapsed on the road in a pool of blood. Sanket rushed him to a hospital, where he died,” official sources added.

The police have seized the knife used in the crime and obtained the CCTV footage that captured the incident.