Umesh Kolhe murder accused ‘radical Islamists’ of Tablighi Jamaat: NIA chargesheet

It adds that Kolhe “exercised his right to free speech in a free country” in declaring his support to Sharma. Kolhe was murdered while returning home at night after closing the chemist shop he ran in Amravati. His son and daughter-in-law, who were on another scooter, witnessed the incident.

“The act committed by the accused is not just a simpliciter murder but a terror act of well-planned criminal conspiracy hatched by religiously radicalised Muslim youth (Tablighi Jamaat) to strike a terror into the minds of the people and section of people in Amravati and other states of India,” the NIA has claimed.

The agency has said that the murder threatened the unity of the country and promoted enmity among communities. It said that the manner in which Kohle was murdered “shall send shivers down the spine of general population of this peace-loving, democratic country, who would never dare to speak up, for what they think is right or wrong”.

The agency has named each of the 11 accused to be followers of Tablighi Jamaat, while claiming that one of the alleged masterminds, Irfan Khan, “was a strict follower” of the jamaat and its rules. It said that Khan had become the president of an NGO, Rahebar Helpline, started during the Covid-19 lockdown to provide ambulances for needy patients, conduct final rituals of unclaimed bodies and assist in medical treatments. It said that Khan had become the organisation’s president with help of the jamaat’s followers and supporters.

The Tablighi Jamaat is a Sunni Islamic proselytising movement which aims to reach out to ordinary Muslims and revive their faith, particularly in matters of ritual, dress, and personal behaviour.

The NIA’s chargesheet states that one of the accused, Dr Yusuf Khan, a veterinary practitioner, was part of a WhatsApp group called ‘Black Freedom’. Its admin was Kolhe. The NIA states that Kolhe on June 14 had put up a post in support of Sharma on the group which miffed Yusuf and he took a screenshot and shared it with other groups and individuals. The NIA said that the number of Kolhe was also “intentionally circulated”, following which other accused began a criminal conspiracy to eliminate him.

Apart from Irfan Khan and Yusuf, the NIA has named Mudassir Ahmed, Shahrukh Hidayat Khan, Abdul Shaikh, Mohammed Shoeb, Atib Rashid, Abdul Arbaz, Mushifique Ahmad, Shaikh Shakil, Shahim Ahmed and booked them on charges including murder, criminal conspiracy and relevant sections of the UAPA. The NIA claims that a “terrorist gang” was formed under the leadership of Irfan. While some are alleged to have conducted a recce of Kohle’s shop, some provided logistical support. On Monday, a special court took cognizance of the NIA chargesheet and remanded the accused in further judicial custody till January 2.