New Delhi: National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Dinkar Gupta met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss Udaipur and Amravati murders. The Ministry of Home Affairs had directed the anti-terror agency to take over the probe a few days ago.
A tailor Kanhaiyalal Kumar was killed inside his shop in Udaipur, Rajasthan on June 28. A week ago, on June 21, a chemist shop owner Umesh Kolhe was killed in Amravati, Maharashtra.
NIA last week said the investigation hints at a terror gang and not a terror outfit. The agency clarified that the problem will look at the role of a bigger gang, reported ANI. Chief Dinkar Gupta briefed the Home Minister about the case.
In the Amravati killing case, investigators believe the attack was in retaliation for sharing a post supporting Nupur Sharma's remark on the Prophet. The NIA has registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and said the culprits wanted to "strike terror among masses across the country".
Six accused - Mudassir Ahmad (22), Shah Rukh Pathan (25), Abdul Thoufique (24), Shoaib Khan (22), Atib Rashid (22), and Yusufkan Bahadur Khan (44) have been arrested by the police. The district court sent the mastermind Irfan to police custody till July 7.
In the Udaipur murder case, the accused identified themselves in the video.
Riyaz Akhtari was seen attacking the victim. Ghouse Mohammad recorded the crime on his mobile phone. They were arrested on the same day. Two others - Asif Hussain and Mohsin Khan - were arrested later. The four were produced before a Jaipur court on Saturday. The CBI court sent them to a 10-day NIA custody.
The investigation team reached Udaipur today and arrested a fifth suspect. The team is interrogating other suspects and is expected to make more arrests soon.