Bijnor clerics Maulana Mohammad Mufti Naeem Kazmi and Imam Maulana Anwarul Haq had ‘announced’ a bounty of ₹1.5 crore for ‘beheading’ Tiwari for his alleged controversial comments on Prophet Muhammad in 2015.

Three persons have been detained in Gujarat and two Muslim clerics booked in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the murder of saffron leader Kamlesh Tiwari, police said on Saturday.

In a joint operation, the Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh police detained five persons in Surat but let off two of them after an inquiry, the police said.

The three detained were identified as Maulana Mohsin Sheikh Salim (24), who worked in a sari shop; Faizan (21), who was employed in a shoe store; and Rashid Ahmed Pathan alias Khurshid Ahmed (23), a tailor who also has knowledge of computers.

At a press conference in Lucknow, DGP O.P. Singh said that as per preliminary investigation, the three were found to be involved in the conspiracy of the murder. “We don’t know their criminal history yet. They could be brought to U.P. on remand for further questioning.”

Clerics had announced bounty

Clerics Maulana Mohammad Mufti Naeem Kazmi and Imam Maulana Anwarul Haq, who had ‘announced’ a bounty of ₹1.5 crore for ‘beheading’ Tiwari for his alleged controversial comments on Prophet Muhammad in 2015, were booked for conspiracy in the murder. They were being questioned, Mr. Singh said.

They were named in the police complaint by the victim’s wife, Kiran Tiwari.

Mr. Singh claimed that there was no terror outfit angle in the case. There were two other persons, including the main accused, about whom the police were trying to gather information. Pathan “made the initial plan,” while Salim acted as a “propeller.” Salim had given a statement saying it was fair to murder Tiwari for his controversial comments, the DGP said.

Prima facie, it was a radical killing. Tiwari had been provided adequate security in the form of a policeman and a gunner and there was no laxity on the part of the police administration, he added.

Box of sweets

Faizan is accused of purchasing the box of sweets recovered from the house of Tiwari after the murder in the Naka area of Lukcnow.

The two let off in Surat by the police after questioning were Pathan’s brother and Gaurav Tiwari who, a few days ago, called up Kamlesh Tiwari, offering to join his outfit, the Hindu Samaj Party, and run its unit in the city. However, there was no conclusive evidence of what was discussed, the DGP said.

Adityanath's warning

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the murder was a "mischief done to create terror.” “Any elements spreading an atmosphere of fear and terror, [we] will wrongly crush their plans.” The guilty in the murder case won't be spared. He also hinted that he was willing to meet the cictim’s family.

Kamlesh Tiwari was cremated in his native Mahmudabad in Sitapur district after the administration agreed to the nine demands of his family.

Security to family

Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Mukesh Meshram said the administration would provide adequate security and financial support to the family, while issuing Tiwari's eldest son a weapon licence besides recommending a job and a house in Lucknow.

A meeting with the Chief Minister would also be soon arranged for the family, Mr. Mesharam said.

While the government has constituted a special investigation team to probe the murder, Kamlesh Tiwari's son Satyam Tiwari sought an investigation by the National Investigation Agency. “We don't trust the administration,” he told reporters.