Even as Shambhulal Regar, the accused in the gruesome murder of a Muslim man, was being interrogated by the Rajasthan police over his alleged links with any hardline outfits, marches were organised by some Hindu fringe groups in support of him. Several policemen were injured as some people tried to carry out a march in neighbouring Udaipur on Thursday and Friday.
Police had already clamped down internet services and imposed prohibitory orders in both Udaipur and Rajsamand as the marches in favour of the accused threatened to escalate.
Regar allegedly hacked Afrajul Khan and set him on fire as he suspected him of love-jihad. He even made his teenage nephew to record the act on the mobile phone. The accused then put the video on social media saying he has sent a message to Islamic jihadists.
“This is a message to Islamic Jihadists who are propagating love-jihad, Shambhu ranted in the video shot by his 15-year-old nephew.
Ironically, the initial police investigations revealed that Afrajul's killing could be a case of mistaken identity, as Regar was looking for some other person whom he had never met.
But what startled the police was the gravity of the crime and articulation of the accused in the name of religion. Was he a lone ranger impacted by hate messages and provocative videos on the social media or a part of any hardline Hindutva group?
“He is being interrogated to check if he was part of any group. He has articulated his message in video well, despite being a school dropout,” Ram Sumer Meena, investigating officer of the case had told THE WEEK.
Rajsamand, known for its marble trade, has been a peaceful town without any history of communal violence. Regar's house is next to the Muslim populated neighbourhood. He chose a migrant Bengali mason to carry out his heinous act.
As the investigation revealed that the entire case was triggered by provocative and communally charged messages on the social media, there have been attempts to fan the tension after the incident.
Bank details of Regar's wife were posted online asking people to help her. As news reports revealed that several people even donated money forcing the police to freeze the account.
As Rajasthan had faced many communal instances in the recent past, an attempt is being made to turn Regar into a poster boy.
Police has registered a case of murder, destruction of evidence, hurting religious feelings, creating ill will, criminal conspiracy under sections 302, 201, 153A, 153B, 295, 505 and 120B of the IPC and Sector 84C of The IT Act. Regar’s nephew, a juvenile, also been booked under these sections and is likely to face a trial under the juvenile law.
