Amravati killing case: Gang ‘self-inspired’ by ISIS might have committed crime, say officials

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 7

The assailants, who indulged in the killing of a pharmacist in Maharashtra’s Amravati, might have been “self-inspired” by the acts of dreaded global terrorist organisation ISIS, and the NIA investigators are trying to find out if they have links with any of the other terror outfit active in India’s neighbourhood.

Amravati-based pharmacist Umesh Kolhe was killed on June 21 by two motorcycle-borne men by slitting his throat, allegedly for supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who made objectionable remarks against Prophet Mohammad.

During searches at multiple premises belonging to the accused persons, the NIA has recovered pamphlets spreading hate messages, knives, mobile phones, SIM cards, memory cards and other incriminating documents, the officials said, adding that the investigators are studying them to reach to a conclusion.

The officials further insisted that the manner in which Kolhe was killed prima facie it appeared that the killers might have been “self-inspired” while taking a cue from the ISIS. Still the investigators have been trying to find out whether they have any links with overseas terror outfits, including the ISIS.

The officials said there have been instances of “self-inspired” groups carrying out terror activities in the past in several countries across the world. The terrorists, who carried out multiple bombings on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019, were also members of a “self-inspired” group, they added.

On Wednesday, the NIA had carried out searches at 13 locations in Amravati in connection with Kolhe’s killing.

In its FIR, the NIA has called it “an act of terror to terrorise a section of people”. The Maharashtra Police had arrested seven people before the case was taken over by the NIA on July 2, following a direction by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The killing of pharmacist Kohle in Amravati had taken place a week before the beheading of a tailor, Kanhaiya Lal, in Rajasthan’s Udaipur on June 28, which is also being probed by the NIA.

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