The alacrity with which the entire police force around the country from UP to Gujarat to Maharashtra and we know not where else, came into action over the murder of Hindu Samaj Party founder Kamlesh Tiwari on October 18, has been truly remarkable.

But what is also extraordinary is that it left the deceased’s 70-year old mother totally unconvinced. Even if one does discount her rant blaming BJP leaders to be behind the murder (Tiwari himself had posted a video several weeks ago hinting that BJP leaders wanted to eliminate him), there are too many questions to be answered and loose ends.

The day after Tiwari was killed, UP Police, the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) of Gujarat police and the Crime branch of Surat police swooped upon the alleged assailants and arrested three persons.

Rashid Ahmad Pathan, 21 was working in Dubai for the last two years and had returned home only last month to participate in his brother’s marriage scheduled for November 3.

Faizan Shaikh(21), who did odd jobs and Maulana Mohsin Shaikh (24) teaching in a madrasa in Surat were the other two picked up. Immediately the three men confessed, according to Gujarat ATS Deputy SP K K Patel. Meanwhile Mahashtra ATS chief Deven Bharti announced from Mumbai that they too had nabbed a likely conspirator in Nagpur who was being interrogated.