Dhandhuka murder: Maulana among 3 arrested so far, Harsh Sanghavi assures speedy justice

The arrested have been identified as Dhandhuka residents Sabbir Chopda (24) and Imtiyaz Pathan (27), and Maulana Mohammad Ayub Javarawala, a resident of Jamalpur in Ahmedabad.

While Chopda and Pathan shot Kishan, the Maulana had allegedly provided the pistol and cartridges to the two. “The deceased had posted a Facebook update on January 6, 2022, in which he had written objectionable comments against a religion. An FIR was lodged against Kishan then at the Dhandhuka police station after a complaint. After Kishan received bail, the duo (Chopda and Pathan) made up their mind to kill him and were provided with the gun and ammunition by the Maulana,” said a senior police official at Ahmedabad Rural.

Meanwhile, state cabinet ministers Harsh Sanghavi and Kiritsinh Rana visited the family members of the deceased in Surendranagar Friday. The ministers assured them of speedy justice in the case.

“After Kishan was murdered, the Ahmedabad police formed separate teams and nabbed the accused within 24 hours. The state government is monitoring the case and is actively working to ensure justice to Kishan,” an official release stated quoting Sanghavi, the Minister of State for Home. The release said no one involved in the murder will be spared. “In order to ensure that this case is investigated appropriately, Gujarat ATS and Ahmedabad Crime Branch have been investigating the case from different angles. The government will hire the best lawyer in the state and murders of Kishan will be punished,” Sanghavi was further quoted.

Before driving to Boliya’s village, the minister chaired a meeting of police officers in Bagodara and reviewed the progress of the investigation.

On Thursday, the incident took a communal turn after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad called for a bandh in Dhandhuka. On Friday, Ranpur, adjoining Botad, also observed a bandh to protest the murder.