On Wednesday, Rajasthan Police reported that the main accused in the murder of the tailor, Kanhaiya Lal, in Udaipur, had contact with the Dawat-e-Islami, a terror organisation in Pakistan. One of the suspects had even travelled to Karachi, Pakistan, in 2014 to meet with the group.

Director General of Police (DGP) for Rajasthan, ML Lather, stated that in addition to the primary suspect, police had also detained three more suspects with whom they had been in contact.

“So far, the prime suspects are two men. Along with them, we have three other people in jail who had been in contact with them, according to DGP Lather.

He added that the incident in Udaipur was a terrorist act and that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the case, adding that the state police will help with the investigation.

“The main accused had contacts with the Dawat-e-Islami organisation. In 2014, one of them travelled to Pakistan’s Karachi to meet with the group. The beheading incident is something we consider a terrorist act and hence the case is handed over to NIA, state police to aid in investigation,” he added.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and Station House Officer (SHO) have been suspended, according to DGP Lather, since they failed to take the necessary steps to defuse the already tense environment in the victim’s neighbourhood prior to this occurrence.

Public shock and anger spread around the nation when two men beheaded tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur for allegedly endorsing suspended BJP lawmaker Nupur Sharma in online posts.

On Wednesday, Kanhaiya Lal was cremated in Udaipur in front of a sizable crowd who shouted out demands for the accused to receive the death penalty. Heavily armed police were present during his final rituals.

According to a senior NIA official who spoke to ANI under the condition of anonymity, the anti-terror agency has also filed a First Information Report (FIR) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and different sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The action was taken shortly after the Ministry of Home Affairs instructed the NIA to assume control of the case’s investigation, which stunned citizens all throughout the nation.

After arriving in Udaipur yesterday night, a four-person NIA team overseen by an Inspector General and a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank official has already begun collecting information about the incident.

On Tuesday, the incident happened in the Maldas neighbourhood of Udaipur. The two accused posted a video on social media shortly after the crime boasting about the “beheading” of Hindu tailor Kanahiya Lal and threatening the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life.

Shortly after the event, the two suspects were detained. In the video, the attackers introduced themselves as Riyaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad.

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