National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday searched SK Engineering, a factory in Sapetia at Sukher, where the two accused – Riyaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad – allegedly made the video that went viral on social media. Officials said the knife used for the gruesome killing was also made at the factory by the two men, even as the police said they found more arms on the premises. Meanwhile, the two accused were produced before a local court, which sent them to 14-day judicial custody.
A senior police officer associated with the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was constituted within hours of the murder, said that the factory and offices of SK Engineering have been seized and the owner has been detained.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister handed over aid of Rs 50 lakh to Kanhaiya Lal’s family; his son said he has been promised a government job, too, as the police couldn’t earlier help his father when he tried to reach out to them. Reportedly a BJP leader has also raised Rs 1.35 crore for the family.
CM Gehlot, on Thursday, met the family and demanded a fast-track probe into the incident. He said, After meeting the deceased’s family. Gehlot said, “Our police did a good job. They arrested the accused within hours and found international links, which is why the NIA came into the picture. We appeal to take this case via fast track. We want the NIA to be time-bound and punish the guilty within one month.”
To protest against the killing, a bandh and a peace march was observed in Jaipur and Udaipur with a minor incident of stone-pelting at the latter. The Jaipur bandh was called by Sarv Hindu Samaj and was backed by the BJP, VHP and RSS. All the market associations supported the protest and shops remained closed. Medical shops, hospitals and petrol pumps were excluded from the protest. A heavy police force was deployed in various other places across the state, anticipating trouble.
Hundreds of people joined the march in Udaipur despite a curfew. The protestors reached the collectorate and handed over a memorandum to the Collector.
