The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said that the killing of Umesh Kolhe by Muslims was an act of terror planned by ‘radicalised’ Muslim youths of Tablighi Jamaat.

“The act committed by accused is not just a Simpliciter murder but a terror act of well-planned criminal conspiracy hatched by religiously ‘radicalised’ Muslim youths (Tablighi Jamaat) to strike a terror into the minds of people,” NIA stated in its chargesheet.

“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 further said.

“The terrorist gang was highly influenced by the ideology of brutality ‘Gustaki Nabi Ki Ek hi Saja sar Tan se Juda’,” the NIA added.

The agency further said that the murder disturbed public tranquillity and national integrity and also the safety of the common public not only in Amravati but also in the entire nation.

As per the agency, a day before the murder, the accused Muslims had assembled at Gausiya Hall in Amravati and decided that beheading is the only punishment for Kolhe.

“Accordingly, they decided to behead Kolhe. Thus the accused persons with a common intention formed a terrorist gang under the leadership of Khan to avenge the alleged ‘dishonour of the Prophet’,” the chargesheet stated.

The chargesheet was filed by the investigation agency on 16 December against 11 Muslim accused. They have been arrested and 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.

Kolhe was brutally murdered by the Muslims on June 21 for a Whatsapp post in support of Nupur Sharma.