By Linus Garg
First publised on 2022-06-29 09:47:09
The ghastly
murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur over a social media post in which he
allegedly support Nupur Sharma needs to be condemned by all right-thinking
citizens. The Rajasthan government also needs to be commended for tackling the
matter effectively and with the necessary urgency to prevent it from
escalating. The way the two miscreants entered his shop masquerading as
customers, beheaded him and then circulated the video of the crime was gruesome.
The miscreants even threatened Prime Minister Modi in the video.
There were
disturbances in Udaipur as angry mobs took to the streets to demand immediate
arrest of the criminals. These mobs forcibly closed marketplaces, burnt tyres
and pelted stones at a place of worship. In a swift action, the Rajasthan
Police have apprehended the culprits from nearby Bheem in Rajsamand district.
The state government has also suspended internet services and imposed Section
144 across the state for one month. It also imposed curfew in 7 police station
areas of Udaipur. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot appealed to the people to maintain
peace and promised 'speedy' probe. He has already constituted a SIT to probe
the matter. But the Centre has transferred the case to the NIA which has taken over the probe.
While the
state BJP leaders have charged Gehlot of following a 'policy of appeasement' that has resulted in such a ghastly crime, Muslim bodies have condemned the
killing and have said that it is 'against Islam'. The NIA needs to probe whether the two killers
acted on their own volition or some terror group was behind the killing.
Reports also suggest that the murdered Kanhaiya Lal was receiving death threats
after his post and had reported the matter to the police. It also needs to be
probed why he was not provided security.