Rajasthan: Gehlot Meets Family of Tailor Killed in Udaipur, Says NIA Should File Charge Sheet Soon

Udaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday visited the house of Kanhaiya Lal who was brutally killed by two men here.

The chief minister spoke to the family members and relatives of Lal.

Gehlot was accompanied by party's state chief Govind Singh Dotasra, Revenue minister Ramlal Jat, DGP M L Lather and other leaders and officials during his visit to Lal's house at sector 14 here, officials said.

"The National Investigation Agency (NIA) should take up this case in a fast track court. The charge sheet should be filed as soon as possible so that punishment can be awarded," Gehlot told reporters after meeting Lal's family members in Udaipur.

Lal, a tailor, was on Tuesday killed by two men who had posted videos online that said they were avenging an insult to Islam.

The incident triggered stray cases of violence in Udaipur and curfew was clamped in seven police station areas of the city.

Lal was cremated on Wednesday in the presence of a large number of people.

Gehlot said those who killed Lal made a video on their own and thus they themselves have become eyewitnesses.

"The way the incident has happened, it has shaken the country. The accused were caught and the police and Special Operations Group (SOG) did a good job," he said.

The CM said the NIA has taken up the case and the SOG of the state police will cooperate with the probe agency.

Asked about the failure of the police in providing security to Kanhaiya Lal despite his complainant, the CM said it will become clear in the NIA investigation whether there was any failure on part of the local police.

Meanwhile, heavy deployment of police was made in Udaipur to maintain law and order and two Additional Director General, one Deputy IG and other senior officials are camping in the city to monitor the situation, officials said.

Thousands of people on Thursday took part in a protest rally here against the gruesome murder of Lal.

The 'Sarv Hindu Samaj' rally was called by Hindu organisations and was held peacefully from the Town Hall to the collectorate with permission of the district administration. 

All-Party Meet Condemns Murder 

Leaders of all political parties in Rajasthan met in Jaipur on Wednesday and  strongly condemned the murder of a tailor in Udaipur and appealed for peace and restraint, as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot chaired an all-party meeting on the incident, officials said. 

The chief minister also announced a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh to the dependent family of the deceased.

Calling the incident a "terrorist act", he said links of the accused in the case have been traced to international organisations involved in illegal activities, adding  that the guilty will be given strict punishment without any delay.

The parties, including the BJP, unanimously said such acts have no place in a civilised society and demanded strict punishment for those involved in the crime, an official statement said.

They also appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace and harmony and said acting with restraint in this situation is the right way.

A resolution condemning the incident was also passed at the all-party meeting. 

Gehlot said leaders cutting across party lines had come forward to help the people during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

"There is no need for the general public to be afraid of criminals and threats.  The state government is standing with them in every situation," he said.

He said the case is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and that the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Rajasthan Police are coordinating with the NIA.

The chief minister also condemned the assault of a policeman in Bheem town.

The cop was slashed with a sword during a protest march in Rajsamand district’s Bhim town, where police used tear gas to stop a stone-pelting mob from advancing towards a mosque.

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi urged representatives of all parties to ask their booth-level workers to maintain peace. We all should set the example of Rajasthan in the country by maintaining peace, he said.

He also suggested prevention of cyber crime, monitoring of content on social media and creating a strong cyber intelligence system.

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra said it is the responsibility of all political parties not to do politics in such times and stand firm with the government.

Minister of State for Home Rajendra Singh Yadav also appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace.

Rashtriya Lok Dal leader and Rajasthan Technical Education Minister Subhash Garg said the incident should not be connected with any caste, religion or community.

Lauding the state police for swift action in the case, Director General of Police M L Lather said both the criminals were arrested within four hours of the incident. Other criminals involved in the conspiracy have also been taken into custody and a case has been registered against them, he said.

Those who attended the meeting include Arun Chaturvedi and Ramlal Sharma from the BJP, Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra, Rashtriya Lok Dal MLA Subhash Garg, RLP president Pukhraj.

CPIM MLA Balwan Poonia, CPIM secretary Amraram, CPI secretary Narendra Acharya, Kisan Mahapanchayat leader Rampal Jat, independent MLA Rajkumar Gaur, and independent MLA Sanyam Lodha also attended the meeting.