Udaipur Tailor Murder: Tensions Rise as Stones Thrown at Rally, Bandh in Jaipur

Police personnel in a scuffle with members of Sarva Hindu Samaj during their protest in Udaipur on Thursday, 30 June, against the killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal.

(Photo: PTI)

Amid spiralling outrage over Kanhaiya Lal's murder, stone-pelting broke out during a protest march near a communally tense area in Udaipur on Thursday, 30 June.

Meanwhile, several schools and markets in Jaipur were closed on Thursday after a traders' body and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for a 'bandh'. Internet services in the city will remain suspended till 1 July.

Several shops in Jaipur downed their shutters, in protest against the Udaipur murder

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has endorsed the shutdown

Shops in Jaipur market shut on Thursday to protest against the Udaipur murder.

To protest the Udaipur murder, shops in Jaipur were shutdown on Thursday.

This comes a day after a constable was injured during pro-Hindutva demonstrations in Rajasthan's Rajmasand. Protests also broke out across states including Gujarat, Karnataka and Delhi and several protestors were detained from Jantar Mantar, on Wednesday.

Kanhaiya Lal Teli, a tailor in Rajasthan's Udaipur, was murdered by two men in the city’s Dhan Mandi area, over his social media posts allegedly supporting suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma's remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

Section 144 Relaxed for Udaipur Protest

As many as 1,000 protestors, participated in the 'Sarv Hindu Samaj' rally called by Hindu organisations on Thursday in Udaipur.

As stone-pelting started, riot police had to move in to control the crowds, NDTV reported.

Additional Director General Dinesh MN told news agency PTI, that although it was a 'silent march', slogans in support of Hinduism were raised by some members.

He added that permission was given for the rally and Section 144 was relaxed on the march route. Following the murder on Tuesday, curfew was imposed across Rajasthan.

Security had been ramped up for Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's visit, who on Thursday met Kanhaiya Lal's family. Earlier on Thursday, he had appealed to religious organisations to maintain peace, amid unrest over the murder.

BJP Endorses Jaipur Bandh

Meanwhile, several schools and markets in Jaipur were closed on Thursday in protest against the Udaipur murder, after a traders' body and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad called for a 'bandh'.

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has endorsed the shutdown, Times of India reported.

"Apart from the force at police stations, at least 2800 policemen would be deployed in the city," ACP (crime) Ajay Pal Lamba said.

He added that drones were being used for surveillance and that no one would be "allowed" to indulge in unlawful activities.

70 Bajrang Dal, VHP Protestors Detained in Jantar Mantar

On Wednesday, nearly 70 protestors from the Bajrang Dal and VHP were detained on Wednesday after they staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar against Lal's daylight killing without permission.

No FIR has been registered so far and the detained have been taken to different police stations as of now, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Amrutha Guguloth.

The protestors gathered at Jantar Mantar and sloganeered against the Hindu tailor's murder and demanded justice for him.

Constable in Coma After Rajasthan Protests

A police constable was critically injured on Wednesday, 29 June, after he was attacked with a sword at a demonstration in Rajasthan's Rajsamand, against Kanhaiya's daylight killing. The constable is now in a coma.

In a video, shared by news agency ANI, the injured constable is seen being taken away by two police officers while another cop is trying to stop the blood from oozing.

Meanwhile, other police personnel are seen rushing to prevent protesters from “heading towards sensitive areas”.

Protests Break Out in Karnataka, UP, Jammu

On Wednesday, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha activists organised a protest in Lucknow while another demonstration was held at Bengaluru demanding stringent action.

The protestors in Bengaluru also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban District office.

BJP Yuva Morcha members burnt the effigy of Rajasthan Chief Minister Gehlot and BJP workers in Chikmagalur raised slogans demanding justice for the tailor.

BJP workers shout slogans during a protest against the killing of a tailor in Udaipur allegedly over his social media post, in Chikmagalur, Karnataka.

Shiv Sena Dogra Front members stage a protest against the killing of a tailor in Udaipur allegedly over his social media post, in Jammu.

BJP Yuva Morcha members burn the effigy of Rajasthan Chief Minister Gehlot in protest against the Udaipur's killing of a tailor, in Kanpur.

Main Accused To Be Presented Before NIA Court 

The National Investigative Agency (NIA) said on Thursday that the main accused in the murder, Gaus Mohammad and Mohammad Riyaz Akhtari, will be brought before a special court in Jaipur on Friday, reported ANI.

The NIA said in a statement, "Riyaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad, the accused in the brutal murder of a tailor (in Udaipur, Rajasthan), will be presented in a special NIA court in Jaipur by 5 pm today or tomorrow. They will be questioned in Rajasthan and not be brought to Delhi."

The agency claimed that there is a bigger group behind the murder and not just the two accused.

"Preliminary inquiry suggests that there may not be any terrorist group involved in the murder but a terror gang," it said. It also stated that media reports suggesting that the accused have links with international terror outfits is "based on speculation."

A team of 6-10 members of NIA is currently investigating the case under the supervision of an inspector general and a deputy inspector general, it added.

The Case So Far

Two men, claiming to be the murderers, posted a video message and sent out a threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video of the brutal murder was also shared on social media.

Both the accused, Gaus Mohammad and Mohammad Riyaz Akhtari, were arrested by the Rajasthan Police on Tuesday evening.

The NIA on Wednesday registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The state police will assist the agency in the probe.

The MHA said that possible international links and involvement of terrorist organisations in the case would be thoroughly investigated.

Three more men, with whom the main accused were in contact, have been taken into custody.

Rajasthan DGP ML Lather said on Wednesday that co-accused Gaus Mohammad has links with the Pakistan-based Dawat-e-Islami organisation.

It has emerged that Kanhaiya Lal had previously submitted a written complaint saying that he was receiving threat calls, and had sought police protection. His request however had gone unheeded.

After the murder, ASI Bhanwar Lal posted at Dhan Mandi police station was suspended for negligence.

A statewide alert has been issued to all superintendents of police and inspectors general to increase the mobility of police forces and ensure the heavy presence of officers on the ground.

The killing has drawn condemnation from all quarters, including politicians, international NGOs, intellectuals and religious bodies, with the latter calling it "un-Islamic".

(With inputs from ANI, IANS, PTI and NDTV.)