'Radicalised Islamists of Tablighi Jamaat' killed Maha pharmacist Umesh Kolhe, says NIA chargesheet - 10 points

Umesh Kolhe, a pharmacist in Maharashtra was killed on June 21 this year after he shared social media posts supporting BJP leader Nupur Sharma's controversial remarks against the Prophet. NIA has filed its chargesheet in the case and claims that the killers were a "gang of radicalised men".

Mumbai (Maharashtra): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said in its chargesheet that Umesh Kolhe, a pharmacist from Amravati in Maharashtra who had shared social media posts supporting BJP leader Nupur Sharma, was murdered by “radicalized Islamists of Tablighi Jamaat" to avenge the alleged dishonor to Prophet Muhammad.

Kolhe was killed on June 21. The NIA called the murder an act of terror by a gang of radicalised men who wanted to make an example out of the victim's murder.

Here are the 10 points in this big story:

1. The 54-year-old chemist was stabbed to death in Maharashtra's Amravati district on June 21 this year by a trio when he was returning from work. He was killed days after he had put up a post on WhatsApp supporting the then-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s objectionable comments on Prophet Mohammed.
2. According to NIA, the murder "caused riots, terrorized people, and made many fear for their lives and security". "This terrorist act put to question India's integrity and perseverance. The murder disturbed public tranquillity and national integrity and also the safety of the common public in the entire nation," the agency said.
3. Calling it an "act of terror by a gang of radicalised men of the Tablighi Jamaat", the NIA said investigations revealed that the accused persons hatched a criminal conspiracy to kill Umesh Kolhe who had no property dispute and no history of fighting with them. "They formed a terrorist gang highly religiously radicalised to avenge Umesh Kolhe who posted a WhatsApp post in support of Nupur Sharma," the NIA said.
4. The agency said that the "terrorist group was highly influenced by the ideology of brutality" - "Gustak e Nabi Ki Ek Hi Saja Sar Tan Se Juda" (Only one punishment for speaking against the Prophet, that is beheading). Among others, the agency has arrested Irfan Khan (32), Mudassar Ahmed alias Sonu Raza Sheikh Ibrahim (22), Shahrukh Pathan alias Badshasha Hidayat Khan (25), Abdul Taufiq alias Nanu Sheikh Tasleem (24), Shoaib Khan alias Bhurya Sabir Khan (22), Atib Rashid Adil Rashid (22), Yusuf Khan Bahadur Khan ( 44).
5. The investigation agency said the pharmacist "exercised his right to free speech" in a democratic country and declared his support for the alleged controversial remarks of Sharma. Kolhe's murder took place a week before the beheading of Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal on June 28 over the same issue of supporting the BJP leader.
6. NIA also charged that Kolhe's execution is not a simple act of murder carried out intending to merely punish him, but it is "an act of terror, by a gang of radicalised men". "It was done in a manner that shall send shivers down the spine of the general population," the agency said.
7. The agency claimed one of the accused, Irfan Khan, who was an estate agent, was the "mastermind" behind Kolhe's murder. Around 10 days before Kolhe's murder, Khan and co-accused Mushifique Ahmad, along with other members of the religious group had approached the local police station to file a case against Nupur Sharma for her controversial comments.
8. However, the police did not register any FIR, as several complaints had already been registered against her in different states including Delhi. The accused were not satisfied with the police's response, and "they desired to avenge the act themselves", the NIA said.
9. The duo had also called a special meeting of members of the Muslim community to discuss the issue where the other accused were also present and insisted on registering an FIR against the BJP leader. The police again intervened and explained to them that multiple FIRs cannot be registered at multiple places for the same offense. It was decided in the meeting not to insist on the FIR but the accused were not satisfied with the decision, as per the charge sheet.
10. A day before the murder, the accused had assembled at Gausiya Hall in Amravati and decided that beheading is the only punishment for dishonouring the Prophet, it said. "Accordingly, they decided to behead Kolhe. Thus the accused persons with a common intention formed a terrorist gang under the leadership of Khan to avenge the alleged dishonour of the Prophet," it said.