Several new revelations are coming to the fore in the Udaipur murder case, which sent shockwaves across the country. One of the accused in the Udaipur murder case, Riyaz Attari, was on a mission to set up a sleeper cell of Dawat-e Islami in Rajasthan, an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed.
Riyaz used to target people to join Dawat-e Islami, the Pakistan-based Sunni group, by luring them in various ways. According to sources, a person privy to the case said that Riyaz Attari and his gang were planning to target two more people in Udaipur.
Riyaz Attari and Ghouse Mohammad have been named as prime accused in the Udaipur murder case that happened on June 28. A Hindu shopkeeper, Kanhaiyalal, was murdered by the duo in Rajasthan’s Udaipur for allegedly sharing a social media post supporting suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
The murder sparked massive outrage across the country and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered the NIA to probe the case.
RIYAZ ON A MISSION TO SET UP SLEEPER CELL
An investigation by the NIA has revealed that Riyaz took rented accommodations in Muslim-dominated areas and used to change his address frequently to brainwash people. Riyaz used to ask people to join Dawat-e-Islami and collect donations for the same and was on a mission to set up a sleeper cell in Rajasthan, the investigation has revealed.
Dawat-e-Islami, a religious movement based in Pakistan, claims to be a non-profit entity propagating the message of Prophet Muhammad. It offers online courses in Islamic studies and also runs a television channel. Dawat-e-Islami also gives special training to offer Dawah (invitation to Islam), convert and radicalise people through online courses.
A person privy to the case told the investigating officials that Riyaz used to target people to join Dawat-e-Islami and also lured them to join the Pak-based group.
RIYAZ ASKED PEOPLE TO JOIN DAWAT-E-ISLAMI
An auto-rickshaw driver, who lived in the same locality as Riyaz Attari and Ghouse Mohammad, said, “I met Riyaz at a shop and he asked me to join Dawat-e-Islami. He asked me to approach him for namaz and collect funds for Dawat-e-Islami.
“Riyaz told me that I may have to travel out for work but if you join us, you will get blessings,” he added.
The autorickshaw driver told India Today/Aajtak, “Riyaz used to convince people to join Dawat-e-Islami. He and Ghouse Mohammad had targeted three people in Udaipur.”
The driver further revealed that Riyaz had asked Aasif and Mohsin to kill Kanhaiyalal but they refused. According to police, Mohsin and Asif were involved in the conspiracy and preparation behind the entire crime and have been sent to 14-day judicial custody.
TWO MORE HELD BY NIA
Meanwhile, in another significant development, the NIA has taken two more people, identified as Wasim Attari and Akhtar Raza, both residents of Udaipur. An initial investigation has revealed that both of them also have connections with Dawat-e-Islami and they also went to Pakistan with Ghouse Mohammad to take training. Wasim Attari is a relative of Riyaz Attari and he also asked people to join Dawat-e-Islami.