From Bollywood stars to cricketers, Udaipur murder sends shockwaves

In a horrific incident, two men slit the throat of a tailor in Udaipur on Tuesday, saying in a video post on social media that they are avenging an insult to Islam and triggering communal tension in the Rajasthan city.

At 8 pm, curfew was declared till further orders in seven police station areas in the city as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appealed for calm. The men who allegedly committed the daylight murder posted videos online admitting to the crime and were taken into custody by police.

Also read: Why is PM Modi and Amit Shah not addressing the people? Rajasthan CM Gehlot after Udaipur killing

In a video clip, one of the purported assailants declared that they had beheaded the man and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying their knife would get him as well. Indirectly, the assailants referred to Nupur Sharma, the BJP leader suspended from the party over a remark on Prophet Muhammad.

Kanhaiya Lal, the tailor, was recently arrested by the local police over some remarks made on social media by him. The assailants entered his shop in the city's Dhan Mandi area posing as customers. As the tailor took the measurements of one of them -- who later identified himself as Riaz - attacked him with a cleaver. The other man shot the brutal murder with his mobile phone.

Also read: 'I am numb, don't have courage to see those videos': Kangana Ranaut on Udaipur murder

The two men fled from the scene and later uploaded the clip on social media. In another video, the alleged assailant said they beheaded the tailor and threatened the prime minister for lighting this fire. As the videos circulated on social media, tension escalated. Here's a look at how Bollywood stars, Indian cricketers and other celebrities reacted to the shocking incident:

Shopkeepers in local markets downed shutters. Shopkeepers stopped police from taking away the body, saying they would allow the removal of the corpse only after the murderers are arrested and compensation  -- Rs 50 lakh and a government job -- given to the victim's family.

On Twitter, CM Ashok Gehlot appealed to people to maintain peace and asked them not to share the videos. "The guilty will not be spared. The entire police team is working on it with full alertness. I can imagine the anger which is there among people due to the murder. We are taking action accordingly," he told reporters in Jodhpur.

Udaipur Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar also promised strict action. "A brutal murder has happened. Broadly, it seems to be a planned murder. We are discussing the demands put forth by the family members. Strict action will be taken against the criminals. I appeal to people to maintain peace," he said.

Gehlot said there is communal tension in the country and the prime minister should address the people. He said both Hindus and Muslims are worried. "It is more impactful if the prime minister speaks. I believe that the prime minister should address the country on this occasion and should make an appeal that we will not tolerate violence at any cost. What is the problem in saying so?" he said.

Also read: Udaipur murder: 2 suspects nabbed; probe points to pre-planned conspiracy

BJP state chief Satish Poonia targeted the Congress government in Rajasthan, saying that the murder was the result of its appeasement policy. He said those seen in the video had threatened the victim on June 17.

The victim had asked for security, but the police did not give it, he claimed, adding that this indicated the state government's apathy. "The situation in Rajasthan is such that Hindus are being attacked and murdered at many places. It is because of the politics of appeasement of CM Ashok Gehlot," Poonia told reporters. 

Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria also condemned the incident and said he was reaching Udaipur Tuesday night.

(With inputs from PTI)