Planning and organization by Pak group; another man murdered for social media post supporting Nupur Sharma

NEW DELHI: While the Pak link was confirmed in connection with the murder of taylor Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan, a report of a similar brutal murder in Maharashtra's Amaravati also came to light. Umesh Kolhe(54), a medical shop owner who posted on WhatsApp in support of BJP leader Nupur Sharma, was killed on June 21. After receiving indications that this murder also has Pakistan links, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the probe into the murder of Umesh Kolhe. Meanwhile, local police have arrested seven persons in the case.

On June 21, Umesh Kolhe was returning home from work when he was attacked and murdered by two men on a motorcycle. Umesh's son and wife were accompanying him in another vehicle. A person had given a car and Rs 10,000 to the accused to escape.

Meanwhile, the NIA has received evidence pointing to Pakistan links in the incident of the murder of a tailor over social media posts in support of Nupur Sharma. Intelligence sources said that Pakistan-based handlers Salman Haider and Abu Ibrahim had given instructions to Riaz Akhtari and Ghouse Muhammad, the accused in the murder.

Haider and Ibrahim had instructed the two accused to retaliate strongly and to stage a major attack against the anti-Prophet remarks. Riaz and Ghouse had tried to arrange explosives like RDX to carry out terror strikes.The two had talked about 'doing something big', informed the investigation team.