New Delhi: Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe, the 54-year-old chemist who was stabbed to death allegedly over a social media post in support of suspended BJP politician Nupur Sharma, never flagged any threat to his life, his brother Mahesh Kolhe said, as reported by news agency ANI.
As per the report, the deceased’s brother said, “He didn't receive threats from anyone... We were told that during primary investigation, 2-4 people were arrested but some newspapers, without proper investigation started publishing that he was killed because of loot or robbery, but nothing as such happened.”
“We're yet to ascertain the reasons for his murder. He never told us about any threats... he only forwarded some messages on Nupur Sharma...,” his brother added.
Notably, Umesh Kolhe was stabbed to death on June 21 in Maharashtra’s Amravati, a week before two men slashed to death Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor in Rajasthan's Udaipur.
Local BJP leaders wrote to police about Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe's death, stating that he was murdered to "take retribution and make an example."
Vikram Sali, DCP Amravati, said, “A total of six accused have been arrested so far from Amravati. During the investigation, we found that Umesh Kolhe had posted on social media in support of Nupur Sharma and this incident took place because of that post.”
According to reports, the incident took place between 10 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. on June 21, when Kolhe was riding his two-wheeler home after shutting his business, a police official said, adding that his son Sanket (27) and wife Vaishnavi were accompanying him in another car.
"When all of them reached near Mahila College’s gate, two motorcycle-borne men came from behind and blocked Kolhe’s path. A youth alighted from the motorcycle and stabbed Kolhe on his neck with a sharp weapon and escaped from the spot. Kolhe collapsed on the road in a pool of blood. Sanket rushed him to a hospital, where he died,” news agency PTI quoted the official as saying.