As the country's attention was riveted to the major political crisis in Maharashtra, an alleged Udaipur-style murder of a chemist in Amravati, who allegedly shared a social media post supporting suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, got eclipsed before hogging the spotlight on Saturday after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Speaking to ANI about the same Amravati MP Navneet Rana said, "We wrote a letter to Union HM Amit Shah and he took action by sending NIA. After 12 days Amravati CP came in front of the media and said that the case is similar to the Udaipur murder & is related to content posted about Nupur Sharma."
Meanwhile, Amravati Police have arrested the seventh accused related to the murder incident from Nagpur.
All you need to know about the case:
A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) visited Amravati city in eastern Maharashtra on Saturday for probe into the killing of a chemist after it emerged that the crime might be linked to his social media posts supporting suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma.
The chemist, Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe (54), was killed on June 21, and Maharashtra police have arrested five persons in connection with the incident.
Earlier in the day, a Union Home Ministry spokesperson tweeted that the probe of the case has been handed over to the NIA.
An NIA team has reached Amravati, said a senior police official in Mumbai.
A team of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of state police from Aurangabad is also visiting the city, said an official.
Kolhe's killing had taken place a week before two men hacked to death a tailor in Rajasthan's Udaipur before posting videos online saying that they were avenging an insult to Islam.
The NIA is also probing the killing of the Udaipur tailor, Kanhaiya Lal.
As per state police, Kolhe was killed between 10 pm and 10.30 pm on June 21 when he was returning home on a two-wheeler after closing his shop.
Kolhe ran a medical store. He had allegedly shared a post on some WhatsApp groups in support of Nupur Sharma for her comments (against Prophet Mohammad).
The BJP on June 5 suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Delhi BJP media head Navin Jindal after their alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad led to outrage in India and also in some Muslim countries.
(With inputs from agencies)
