The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its chargesheet has claimed that the 11 accused, involved in the murder of Amravati man for supporting Nupur Sharma’s offensive remark against Prophet, were “radicalised Islamists” of the Tablighi Jamaat. After all the accused were arrested, the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the case from the Maharashtra Police to the NIA in July.
Tablighi Jamaat
The Tablighi Jamaat claims itself apolitical religious movement limiting its tenets in the ritualistic part of religion. There is no provision of membership in the Tablighi Jamaat and that any Muslim from any part of world can simply join it for certain period of time during which he is supposed spread the message of Islam among Muslims by visiting their homes. The Tablighi Jamaat last came into controversy two years ago during the coronavirus-induced lockdown when it was accused of spreading “corona jihad”.
NIA chargesheet
The NIA filed the chargesheet in a special court on Friday, claiming that accused wanted to make out an example of the murder which they committed on the grounds that Kolhe hurt religious sentiments. They were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 341 (wrongful restraint), 153 A (promoting enmity), 201 (disappearance of evidence), 506 (criminal intimidation) as well as provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA chargesheet stated: “The investigation has revealed that radicalised Islamists of the Tablighi Jamaat committed the murder of Umesh Kolhe on the grounds of allegedly hurting religious sentiments, promoting enmity, ill-will and hatred among different castes and religions, especially between Hindus and Muslims in India, which is prejudicial to the maintenance of social harmony.” The NIA chargesheet stated, “The act committed by the accused is not just a simple murder but a terror act of a well-planned criminal conspiracy hatched by religiously radicalised Muslim youth to strike a terror into the minds of the people and section of people in Amravati and other states of India.”
‘Mastermind approach police before murder’
Over a week before committing the crime, the mastermind, identified as Irfan Khan, had approached the police to lodge a case against Nupur Sharma, but in vain. According to the NIA, Khan, who is the prime accused, was not content with police’s action against Nupur Sharma. Khan, a strict follower of the Jamaat’s guidelnes, became the president of an NGO—Rahebar Helpline—formed during the COVID-19 lockdown and provided ambulances to the needy.