On July 6, the Uttar Pradesh government initiated action against schools operated by Dawat-e-Islami in Pilibhit after it was found to be allegedly linked to the murder of Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal from Udaipur by Islamists for alleged post supporting Nupur Sharma. The administration has shut down all schools run by Dawat-e-Islami in Pilibhit. Reports suggest that the Pilibhit administration was keeping a close eye on the organization Dawat-e-Islami in connection to the case.
Dawat-e-Islami is based in Karachi in Pakistan, and it has been found that the killers of Kanhaiya Lal has links with the group. It was found that the organisation was collecting funds using donation boxes places all over the city. Hundreds of donation boxes were placed at various shops in the city, which have been removed now. It is suspected that the money collected through this boxes were used for terror funding purposes.
➡️स्कूल के कागजात और कम्प्यूटर डाटा को पुलिस ने कब्जे में लिया
— TV9 Uttar Pradesh (@TV9UttarPradesh) July 6, 2022
➡️शहर काजी जरताब रज़ा ने दावत-ए-इस्लामी पर उठाया था सवाल
➡️1400 गुल्ल्क के जरिये टेरर फंडिंग की जताई थी आशंका।#Dawateislami @pilibhitpolice
Islamic leader and Pilibhit’s Kazi Maulana Jartaab Raza Khan has also opposed operations being run by Dawat-e-Islami in the district. In a statement, Khan said the organization collects donations using over 1,000 piggy banks that it has placed across districts. He added no one knows where the collected donations are being used and alleged it could be used against the country.
Superintendent of Police Dinesh P constituted a team and initiated search operations at the schools run by Dawat-e-Islami. During the investigation, the computers at the schools were checked by the police. The Police also found that the schools were being run without required permissions and documentation upon which the Block Education Officer issued orders to close down the school within three days.
@TV9UttarPradesh की ख़बर का असर
— TV9 Uttar Pradesh (@TV9UttarPradesh) July 6, 2022
➡️दावत-ए-इस्लामी के नाम से संचलित स्कूल को नोटिस जारी
➡️3 दिन में स्कूल बंद करने को लेकर दिया गया नोटिस
➡️खंड शिक्षा अधिकारी नगर ने जारी किया नोटिस
➡️शहर कोतवाली क्षेत्र नकटादाना का मामला।#Pilibhit @pilibhitpolice @Uppolice pic.twitter.com/Psk3DZsk7m
Speaking to the media, SP Dinesh P said that the LIU team is investigating the case with a team of intelligence. So far nothing incriminating was found during the investigation but the administration and Police are on high alert in the matter.
The link between Kanhaiya Lal’s murder and Dawat-e-Islami
On June 28, a Hindu tailor named Kanhaiya Lal was brutally murdered by two Islamists who posed as his customers and went to his shop where he was killed. The killers alleged they murdered him over a social media post Kanhaiya had put up supporting BJP’s former spokesperson Nupur Sharma. Following their arrest, it was found that they were possibly linked to the Pakistan-based organization Dawat-e-Islami. The organization also has its presence in different locations in India including Pilibhit, and Uttar Pradesh.
Reportedly, one of the killers Ghous Mohammed had visited Dawat-e-Islami in Pakistan in 2014 on the invitation senior functionaries of the organisation. He had stayed in Karachi for over a month, during which period he received training there.
The other killer Riyaz Attari had also travelled abroad, and reportedly he was trying to infiltrate the BJP, including the minority cell of the party. He was trying to get close to BJP leaders and workers of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch. He had attempted to get close to BJP Minority Morcha members in attempts to target them.
How Dawat-e-Islami started in India
As per reports, a delegation of Ulema from Pakistan visited India in 1989. They initiated talks to open a branch of Dawat-e-Islami in India. The Organization has its headquarters in Delhi and Mumbai. Using Tablighi Jamaat as an example, it was decided by then-members of Dawat-e-Islami to start a similar organization in India. Every year, Dawat-e-Islami organizes an annual Ijtima (event) to join more people. A large number of people attend these events every year.
