Kishan Bharvad, a 30-year-old

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

shopowner, was shot by Shabbir and Imtiaz in the Modhwala locality in the city of Dhandhuka in Gujarat, India on 25 January 2022, and he died on the spot. The 2 accused were arrested by the police. The case is being investigated by the

Anti-Terrorism Squad Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is a special police force in several states of India including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. In Maharashtra, it is headed by senior of the Indian Police Ser ...

and the National Investigation Agency.

Background

On 6 January 2022, Kishan had posted a video on social media in which the Hindu deity Krishna was depicted as "superior" to Islamic Prophet Muhammad and Jesus. Shortly after this social media post, there was outrage by some members of Muslim community & a First information report (FIR) was filed on him under the incitement/blasphemy Law 8 days before the murder. He was made to apologize, after which he was released by the police.

Murder

At 5:30 on 25 January, as Kishan had moved outside his house for the first time since his release from police custody, he was shot by 2 bike-borne assailants later identified as Shabbir and Imtiaz by Gujarat Police. Kishan died on the spot. Later, when the police tried to return the body to the family but they refused and only accepted the body and funeral proposals after meeting Hindu Organization leaders in the area. Leaders from the

Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad Pravin Togadia (; born 12 December 1956) is an Indian doctor, cancer surgeon and an advocate for Hindu nationalism, coming from the state of Gujarat. He was the former International Working President of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and a ca ...

and Bajrang Dal organized ''Bandh'' as a form of protest saying that the Hindu Youth was ''Martyred.''

Investigation

On 27 January, Maulana Ayyub, a Muslim Cleric, was arrested in

Ahmadabad, Gujarat Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per th ...

. On 29 January, the Gujarat Government handed this case over to the

(ATS) for further investigation. On 30 January, the ATS arrested Maulana Qamar Ghani, a Muslim Cleric, from

Daryaganj Daryaganj (literally "A market near a river") is a neighbourhood of Delhi inside the walled city of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi). The "darya" (lit. "River") refers to the river Yamuna which was just outside the walled city. Daryaganj is one of the ...

, Delhi. On 2 February, the Gujarat ATS invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on both clerics, Ayyub and Qamar Ghani. According to the ATS, Maulana Qamar Ghani runs an Islamic organization called ''Tehreek Farogh-e Islami''. This organization has circulated videos in pasts encouraging Muslim youth to attack non-Muslims who "insult"

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...

. On the same day, 3 more people were arrested. Razeem Seta, Hussain Khatri and Matin Modan were arrested for allegedly procuring the weapon and providing food and shelter to the accused. On 4 February, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) joined the investigation of the murder to investigate the possible terror angle. The ATS denied finding any Pakistani angle in the case. On 7 February, the ATS released the information that Maulana Ayyub had profiles of 26 individuals in his mobile that might be targeted in the future. On the same day, the 3 main accused were sent in for extra 10 days of remand. According to the ATS, they are currently investigating a list of 10 persons who had allegedly insulted Islam. On 16 February, Maulana Qamar was sent to judicial custody.

References

{{Reflist Religiously motivated violence in India January 2022 crimes in Asia Lynching deaths in India Ahmedabad district 2022 murders in India People murdered in Gujarat Deaths by firearm in India Islamic terrorism in India Persecution by Muslims Violence against Hindus in India Persecution of Hindus

Background

Murder

Investigation

See also

References