Maharashtra: Kanhaiyalal’s murder pattern visible Killing of Amravati chemist who posted in support of Nupur Sharma

Mumbai, 2nd July 2022: Police investigating the murder case of a chemist in Amravati said that there is a similarity with the killing of Kanhaiyalal in Udaipur (Rajasthan).

A case has been registered at City Kotwali police station in Amravati following a complaint by Umesh Kolhe’s son Sanket Kolhe. On June 23, two persons, Mudassir Ahmed and 25-year-old Shahrukh Pathan, were arrested. Their interrogation revealed the involvement of four more people. Three of them Abdul Taufik (24), Shoaib Khan (22) and Atib Rashid were arrested on June 25. One Shamim Ahmed Firoz Ahmed is still absconding.

The incident took place on June 21 between 10 pm and 10.30 pm when Umesh was going home after closing his shop ‘Amit Medical Store’. Sanket was riding another scooter with his wife Vaishnavi.

Sanket told the police in his complaint, “We were going from Prabhat Chowk and our scooters reached the gate of Women’s College New High School. Two men on a motorcycle suddenly came in front of my father’s scooty. They stopped my father’s bike and one of them stabbed him with a knife on the left side of his neck. My father fell and was bleeding. I stopped my scooter and started shouting for help. Another person came and the trio fled the spot on a motorcycle.”

With the help of people around, Kolhe was taken to the nearby Axon Hospital where he died during treatment.

“The five accused arrested so far have told us that they sought the help of another accused, who provided them a car and Rs 10,000 to escape,” said a senior police officer of Amravati city police”.

One of the absconding accused had entrusted the other five for the murder, the official said. He had asked two of them to keep a watch on Kolhe and alert the other three when they came out of the medical store. The other three stopped Kolhe and beat him up. After Saket’s complaint, an FIR was registered at City Kotwali police station.

The Indian Express quoted sources as saying, “During the investigation, we came to know that Kolhe had made a post on WhatsApp supporting Nupur Sharma. He also posted this on a group with Muslim members who were also his customers. One of the arrested accused said that it was an insult to the Prophet and hence he should die.”

The police seized the knife, mobile phone, vehicle and clothes used in the crime. Also, CCTV footage has been obtained from the spot of the incident.

Police said, “We have sent the seized electronic devices to DFSL. The investigation of technical evidence is ongoing. The bank accounts of all the arrested accused and their family members have been recovered and the investigation is on.”

Asked if his father’s murder could have been because of a social media post, Sanket told The Indian Express, “My father was a very jovial person. He never spoke ill of anyone nor was he associated with any political party. I have also heard that he was murdered because of his social media posts, but I checked his Facebook profile and found nothing objectionable. What was the motive, only the police can tell?.”

When contacted, Amravati City Police Commissioner Aarti Singh told The Indian Express, “Five people have been arrested in this case and we are on the lookout for the rest, whose arrest will give us clarity on the motive behind the murder.”