Man behind chemist's killing in Maharashtra held

New Delhi, July 2

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The killing of a chemist in eastern Maharashtra’s Amravati city was related to social media posts supporting suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, the police said on Saturday, even as the case was handed over to the NIA.

The alleged mastermind of the killing was also arrested during the day, said a senior official. This was the seventh arrest in the case.

The crime branch of Amravati city police arrested Irfan Khan (32) from Nagpur in the evening. He had allegedly hatched the conspiracy to murder Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe (54), who ran a medical shop in Amravati, and roped in others, said Police Commissioner Aarti Singh.

Kolhe was stabbed to death around 10.30 pm on June 21 near Ghantaghar in Shyam chowk area of Amravati.

DCP Vikram Sali said the killing was linked to certain posts that Kolhe had shared in WhatsApp groups, supporting Sharma who has been suspended by the BJP for making controversial comments about Prophet Mohammad.

Earlier, the police had arrested Mudassar Ahmed, alias Sonu Raza Sheikh Ibrahim (22), Shahrukh Pathan, alias Badshasha Hidayat Khan (25), Abdul Taufik, alias Nanu Sheikh Taslim (24), Shoeb Khan, alias Bhurya Sabir Khan (22), Atib Rashid Aadil Rashid (22) and Yusuf Khan Bahadur Khan (44) in connection with Kolhe’s killing. An NIA team visited Amravati on Saturday for probe.