Maulana Showkat Shah murderers arrested

Kashmir police announced it has arrested three people in connection to the killing of Shia cleric Maulana Showkat Ahmed Shah.

The Police said that they have arrested three persons connected with the murder of the religious scholar, Maulana Showkat Ahmad Shah killed in a blast in Srinagar on April 8, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

SM Sahai, Inspector General of Police for Kashmir zone, told a media conference in Srinagar that the conspiracy to eliminate Maulana Showkat was hatched in the Srinagar Central Jail some time back.

"A radical religio-political outfit namely 'Sout-ul-Haq' and some other radical elements have been found behind the conspiracy," Sahai said.

The Kashmir Valley police chief also said that Maulana Showkat was perceived by radical elements as one against sectarianism and helping to defuse sectarian clashes.

"His work in the field of education, especially trying to establish a university with the help of the government was perceived by them as a compromise with the government," the IGP revealed.

He pointed out that Maulana was killed since the accused wanted to seize power in Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadith, which they could not do as the cleric was re-elected for the third term in the religious organization.