The National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleged that the men who allegedly killed Amravati-based pharmacist Umesh Kolha were radicalized and members of the Tablighi Jamaat, instigated by social activists Irfan Khan and Maulavi Mushfique Ahmad. Kolhe, who ran a medical shop in Amravati, was returning home on the night of June 21 on his scooter when three bike-borne youths attacked him and hacked him to death. Kolhe’s daughter-in-law and his son were in another vehicle traveling with him, but were unable to save him.
According to the NIA, this was the group’s second attempt to eliminate the pharmacist. In its indictment filed on Friday against 11 accused, the federal agency alleged that “a radicalized Islamist from the Tablighi Jamaat murdered Umesh Kolhe.” The terrorist gang (a group of 11 accused) was heavily influenced by the ideology of brutality “Gustakh-E-Nabi Ki Aik Saza, Sar Tan Se Juda,” the NIA said in the charge sheet. According to the agency, the killing took place a week before tailor Kanhaiya Lal was beheaded in an entire public space in Udaipur, Rajasthan on June 28 over the same issue of support for Nupur Sharma, a former BJP spokesperson who had made controversial statements about the Prophet.
According to the NIA chargesheet, the conspiracy to remove Kolhe started when one of the accused, Yusuf Khan – a veterinary doctor, circulated a message published by Kolhe on June 14 to one of the groups, namely ‘black freedom’. The NIA alleged that Yusuf deliberately took a screenshot of the post after changing Kolhe’s number and circulated it in another group, namely ‘Kalim Ibrahim’, created by Irfan and also with others. The NIA alleged that the conspiracy to remove Kolha began with this circulation of news.
The agency claimed that after the fast on June 19, all the main accused namely Mohammad Shoeb, Atib Rashid, Irfan and Shahim Ahemad met at Gausiya Hall in Amravati. The group decided to kill Kolhe in the meeting and Irfan agreed to give them all support. “In the said meeting, Irfan ordered them not to carry mobile phones, wear black T-shirts and tracksuits and compulsorily cover their faces with a scarf to hide their identity. The accused persons with common intention formed a terrorist gang under the leadership of A-7 (Irfan) to kill Umesh Kolha for striking terror in the hearts and minds of the general population who supported Napur Sharma’s statement,” the NIA alleged in its charge sheet.
It was decided that on June 20 the accused should dispose of him while leaving for his pharmacy. However, the plan failed as Kohle did not show up. After that, Irfan prepared another plan and formed a reconnaissance team to track Kohle’s movements to carry out their plot. The group met again on the night of 20 June with other accused namely Shaikh Shakil, Abdul Arbaz Mudassir Ahmed, Abdul Taufeeque Shaikh and Atib who gathered with Irfan to devise a strategy to carry out their plan.
Recce’s group helped the attackers – Mohammad Shoeb and Shahim Ahemad find Kolhe. When he reached the spot, the two stopped his bike and Shoeb attacked him with a knife. Investigation revealed that after the murder, the accused ran away and met Irfan where he organized a murder celebration. The agency claimed that Abdul Arbaz, who was part of the group, went to the hospital to confirm that Kolhe was dead and told Irfan, who later informed the Maulvi about Maulvi’s death.
