A local court in Dhandhuka, near Ahmedabad, on Monday sent two persons, including a cleric, to seven-day police remand in connection with their alleged involvement in the murder of a youth on January 25.
Kishan Bharwad, 27, was shot dead in Dhandhuka for allegedly uploading a post on social media against Prophet Muhammad. He was arrested following a complaint, but was later released on bail. He had also deleted the post.
Right-wing organisations, today, observed a bandh in and around Ahmedabad and Saurashtra.
Maulana Qamar Gani Usmani, who was arrested from New Delhi, and Azim Sami, who is alleged to have provided the weapon and was arrested from Morbi, were sent to seven-day remand by the court.
Five have been arrested for Bharwad’s murder – others being Shabbir, who fired the bullets, Imtiaz Pathan, who was riding the bike, and Maulana Mohammad Ayub Yusuf Jawarawala, a resident of Ahmedabad.
Anti-Terrorist Squad is probing the case.
ATS SP I.G. Shaikh said that during interrogation, Jawarawala made it clear that if anyone writes against the Prophet, he would pay with his life.
Jawarawala is alleged to have tried to kill one Sajan Odedara for the latter’s comments on the Prophet.
Usmani, reportedly, runs an organisation that keeps a tab on utterances against the Prophet. Police said Imtiaz follows Usmani on social media.
Usmani is believed to have told Imtiaz to connect with Jawarawala. Sami, allegedly, gave the weapon to Jawarawala free of cost.
Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi termed it a conspiracy and said that radicalising youth is not good.
A delegation of Congress leaders led by state party president Jagdish Thakore visited Bharwad’s family on Monday. He demanded justice for the victim and said that the real culprits should be arrested.
