NW India bans public gatherings, suspend internet after Hindu slain

Fearing outbreaks of religious violence, police in the Indian state of Rajasthan banned public gatherings and suspended Internet services a day after two Muslim men posted a video claiming responsibility for slaying a Hindu tailor in the city of Udaipur.

"We are under strict orders to prevent any form of protests or demonstrations scheduled to condemn the murder," a senior police officer in Rajasthan said adding that the crime had sent "shockwaves through the country." Authorities said they had suspended Internet services in several parts of Rajasthan to prevent circulation of the video shared by the accused.

2 assailants slashed the head and throat of Kanhaiya Lal Teli in an attack while he was taking measurements, a city administrator in Udaipur said. Teli had been reportedly detained by Indian authorities over a social media post in support of controversial remarks made by a former spokeswoman for the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), about Islam’s Prophet Muhammad which triggered global outrage.

Brandishing a meat cleaver, two bearded men said in the video that they were avenging an insult to Prophet caused by the victim. Both the suspects were arrested and is being interrogated by federal investigators on Wednesday, while state police were on guard against any unrest in the northwestern state. MUMBAI, June 29 Reuters