Gujarat ATS arrests Muslim cleric over murder of man

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Anti-Terror Squad has arrested a Muslim cleric over the murder of a man, alleging that the cleric and murderers masterminded the plot in order to 'punish' the victim for objectionable posts made against their religion and community.

25 year-old Kishan Boliya was shot dead by assailants riding motorcycles in Gujarat's Dhandeka town on January 25. The Anti-Terror Squad began its investigation into the incident on Saturday after reports arose that the man had been murdered for an objectionable post on Muslims, shared on January 6.

ATS officials said Maulvi Kamargani Usmani was arrested from Delhi, and he is the second cleric to be held in the case after Mohammad Ayub Javrawala, who was caught from Ahmedabad on Friday. Usmani is also alleged to have used the social organisation he runs to indoctrinate youth in his community, and instigating them to attack those who insulted the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

The two clerics had masterminded the plot to kill Boliya together, ATS officials alleged. In addition to preparing a list of those who posted 'blasphemous' content on social media, Usmani would also circulate extremist videos to the youth and share the details of these social media users to them and incite them to attack such people, officials added.

The police added that Maulana Javarawala handed a weapon and cartridges to Chopda and Pathan, who shot and killed Kishan. According to the official, Javrawala allegedly stated that Muslims should not spare anyone who offend Islam during a spiritual meeting in Ahmedabad a few months ago, which Shabbir had attended.

ATS Superintendent of Police Imtiaz Shaikh told reporters Shabbir Chopda, who had shot dead Boliya, was in touch with Usmani through social media platform Instagram. Chopda (25) and Imtiaz Pathan (27) were held on Friday along with Javrawala, who instigated the two to commit the crime and also arranged for the murder weapon.

Following the murder, the Hindutva organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad called for a shutdown in Dhandhuka on Thursday. The following day, Harsh Sanghvi and Kiritsinh Rana, state Cabinet ministers, met with members of Boliya's family.

Sanghvi stated that the Ahmedabad Police Department has organized squads to apprehend the culprits within 24 hours and that the case has been turned over to the anti-terrorism unit.