A few days after 27-year-old Kishan Bharwad was shot dead in broad daylight at Dhandhuka in Ahmedabad district, police have arrested three persons, including a Maulana for the murder.

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi on Friday, January 28 confirmed that the Muslim cleric (Maulvi) from the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad, who had allegedly provided weapons to the murderers has been arrested, reports Desh Gujarat.

Kishan was shot dead in Dhandhuka on January 25 when along with his cousin, was passing by the Modhwada locality on his two-wheeler.

He had allegedly shared a social media post that had enraged some Muslims after which the murder was executed on instructions of two Maulvis, one from Ahmedabad and another one from Mumbai.

Speaking about the Maulvi’s arrest, Harsh Sanghavi said, “It was shocking that a Maulvi gave a revolver and five bullets for the murder. Radicalization of youths is unacceptable. Putting my hand on the head of the 20 days old daughter of Kishan Bharwad, I vowed and assured the family of timely justice.”

“Some murders are done in anger, some murders are executed for revenge, but this murder is special. This murder is a case of conspiracy. When an in-depth probe was carried out, we received the details on why this murder case is special. The details surfaced how murders were motivated,” Sanghavi added.

Meanwhile, Virendra Singh Yadav, Superintendent of Police, Ahmedabad (Rural) said, “It appears that this murder was part of a planned conspiracy. At times, people from different communities act out of rage and we sort out such acts of anger by counselling them. But this is totally different and radicalization of youths seems to be behind this.”

On January 28, OpIndia reported that the Ahmedabad Police arrested two persons and discovered links of two Maulvis in the murder case of the 27-year-old Kishan Bharwad. According to the Zee News Gujarati, the murder was carried out on instructions of two Maulvis, one from Ahmedabad and another one from Mumbai. A Maulvi from the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad had allegedly provided weapons to the murderers and Maulana from Mumbai had given the instructions.

Further reports by News18 Gujarat state that the police has formed 7 different teams to investigate into the matter. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi reviewed the investigation process by the Police and collected all the details of the case.

The murder case probe has been transferred to the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi said here on Saturday.

"Today morning, we have shifted the Kishan Bharwad murder case from the Ahmedabad Crime Branch to the Gujarat ATS. The ATS is right now moving forward in this investigation. The Gujarat police will be updating about this at regular intervals," he said.

Apart from the Maulvi, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested Shabbiar alias Saba Chopda (resident of Malvatvada, Dhandhuka), Imtiyaz alias Imtu Pathan (resident of Kothifali, Dhandhuka).

Several towns of Gujarat had observed bandh in last two days protesting Kishan's murder. The MoS had visited Kishan's family and assured justice in fast-track manner. Kishan has left behind a 20-day-old daughter.

Image courtesy: Ahmedabad Mirror