Afrazul Killing: Hindutva activists go on rampage in support of killer, sec 144 imposed

Rajsamand: Tensions erupt in Udaipur and Rajsamand district following the gruesome murder of Mohammed Afrazul, the migrant labourer from West Bengal.

Nearly dozens of policemen injured on Thursday after hundreds of activists, allegedly belonging to right-wing Hindu groups pelted stones at the security personnel in support of the ‘hate killer’ Shambhulal Regar.

To thwart a rally by Hindu groups supporting the accused, the Udaipur Police on Wednesday issued a notice saying that Section 144 has been imposed and Internet services have been blocked for 24 hours to prevent disturbances or incidents of communal disharmony.

Defying prohibitory orders, the Hindutva activists gathered near the Court Circle in Udaipur and held rallies and demonstrations.

Wearing saffron bandana, the activists went berserk, created ruckus on roads, forcibly closed down shops and institutions, raised slogans, pelted stones and burned tyres.

Police restored to lathicharge to control the situation. Following the clash, both the sides got injured. Police said over 175 people arrested for violating prohibitory orders.

“Twelve policemen, including ASP (city) Sudhir Joshi, were injured in stone pelting. We have arrested 175 miscreants,” IG Udaipur range Anand Shrivastava told TOI.

Following the protest, police have been deployed in the sensitive areas and section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (unlawful assembly) to continue in both districts.

Shambhulal, last week hacked and burnt 45-year-old daily wager Mohammad Afrazul to death, set his body on fire for allegedly committing “love jihad”. He also uploaded a video of the brutal murder that went viral on social media platforms.

Rajasmand police also froze a bank account after finding 516 donors transferred Rs 3 lakh in the Shambhulal Regar’s wife’s account to find the court battle.

“We have frozen the bank account in which money was being collected in the name of Regar. Around Rs 3 lakh was deposited before the account was frozen… We will investigate those who deposited the money to check for any links with the accused,” said Anand Shrivastava, IG, Udaipur Range.