The brother of a 54-year-old chemist Umesh Kolhe, who was killed in  Maharashtra’s Amravati on the night of June 21 allegedly for supporting suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, expressed his shock and sorrow over the incident.

Mahesh Kolhe told news agency ANI on Saturday that he was not aware of any threats to his brother’s life because of the WhatsApp messages in support of Sharma.

“We’re not able to understand why was he killed… because of a few forwarded messages?” Mahesh said. He denied reports that his brother was killed in a robbery-turned-wrong. 

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“My brother forwarded some messages about Nupur Sharma in some WhatsApp groups… but we’re not able to understand why was he killed? Because of two-four forwarded messages?” Mahesh said.

“We’re yet to ascertain the reasons for his murder. He never told us about any threats… he only forwarded some messages on Nupur Sharma…”

Umesh Kolhe was returning home on a two-wheeler late in the night when he was accosted by three men. CCTV footage shows Kolhe riding his two-wheeler but the killing was not clearly visible.

“On June 21 night, while my brother was en-route to his home after shutting his shop, some people attacked him and he was stabbed with a knife. When I reached he was already dead,” Mahesh said.

Six people have been arrested so far in connection to the killing, Vikram Sali, the deputy commissioner of police for Amravati district, said. The case has been transferred to the National Investigation Agency.

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Umesh Kolhe’s murder took place exactly a week before the gruesome killing of a tailor in Rajasthan’s Udaipur.

Kanhaiya Lal had also shared messages in support of Sharma. He was hacked to death in broad daylight at his shop by two Muslim men. The accused filmed the killing and shared the video on social media.

Officials investigating Kolhe’s death said that the prime suspect Irfan Khan, who is currently on the run, took the help of five people to kill the chemist. He allegedly promised to give Rs 10,000 to his accomplices and a safe escape in a car, police said. The police have seized the knife used in the crime.