Slain Hindutva leader Kamlesh Tiwari was on ISIS hit list

Hindu Samaj Party president Kamalesh Tiwari, who was found murdered at his home in Naka Hindola area of Lucknow, was probably on the hit list of the Islamic State after he made objectionable comment against Prophet Mohammad in 2015.

Two IS suspects arrested by the Gujarat police in 2017—Obaid Mirza and Qasim—had revealed during interrogation that Tiwari was on their hit list, news agency IANS reported, quoting sources.

The duo had told investigating officers that they had been shown a video of Tiwari and asked to eliminate him.

Meanwhile, Tiwari's wife alleged that a cleric from Bijnor was the mastermind behind her husband's killing. 

The 45-year-old right-wing leader was earlier associated with a faction of the Hindu Mahasabha.

"Kamlesh Tiwari was found murdered inside his house. Two persons had come to meet him. Both were speaking to Tiwari when the latter sent one of his aides to get 'paan' for them," Vikas Tripathi, ASP (Lucknow West), said.

Naka Hindola SHO Sujeet Kumar Dubey said there were brief protests by angry local residents after the incident but there was no law and problem.