Gujarat: Second Muslim Cleric Arrested For Man's Murder Over 'Objectionable' Facebook Post

Cleric Maulvi Kamargani Usmani is the second cleric to be arrested in the case after Mohammad Ayub Javrawala was arrested from Ahmedabad on Friday

Gujarat murder: ATS officials said Maulvi Kamargani Usmani was arrested from Delhi.

New Delhi: In connection with the murder of a man over the alleged objectionable Facebook post, the Gujarat Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a Muslim cleric from Delhi, according to news agency PTI.

The case is linked to a murder of a man Kishan Boliya in Gujarat’s Dhandhuka town, who was shot dead by two men riding on a motorcycle on January 25 in retaliation to a Facebook post shared by the victim on January 6.

In response to the Facebook post, certain Muslim community members had filed a police complaint claiming it hurt their religious sentiments, according to officials.

In fact, the cleric Maulvi Kamargani Usmani is the second cleric to be held in the case after Mohammad Ayub Javrawala was arrested from Ahmedabad on Friday, according to an ATS official quoted in PTI report. It has been revealed by ATS Superintendent of Police Imtiaz Shaikh that Shabbir Chopda, who had shot dead Boliya, has remained in touch with Usmani through the social media platform Instagram.

The arrested cleric ran a social organisation and instigated youth from the community to take action against those who insult Prophet Mohammad.

Two people including Chopda aged 25 years and Imtiaz Pathan aged 27 were held on Friday along with Javrawala, who instigated the two to commit the crime and also arranged for the murder weapon. Usmani had directed Chopda to get in touch with Javrawala for action against Boliya, the ATS SP said, adding that the two clerics were in touch with each other.

The Gujarat ATS began its probe into the case on Saturday.