The National Investigation Agency will probe the killing of a chemist in Maharashtra’s Amravati, the government said on Saturday, after it emerged that the murder might be linked to his social media posts supporting suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

The chemist, Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe, was killed on June 21.

A home ministry spokesperson tweeted that the probe of the case relating to the “barbaric killing” of Kolhe had been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The federal probe agency would thoroughly investigate the conspiracy behind the killing and involvement of organisations and international links.

Kolhe’s killing had taken place a week before two men hacked to death a tailor in Rajasthan’s Udaipur before posting videos online saying that they were avenging an insult to Islam.

Days before his killing, the Udaipur tailor had told local police that he had received threats over a social media post shared from his account, apparently “supporting” BJP leader Sharma’s remarks on Prophet Mohammad.

The NIA is also probing the killing of the Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal.

Maharashtra police have arrested five people in connection with the Amravati killing and are looking for Irfan Khan, who runs an NGO and is alleged to be the prime accused in the case.

According to the police, Kolhe had allegedly shared a post on WhatsApp groups in support of Sharma, following which Khan is alleged to have hatched a conspiracy to eliminate him.

Kolhe was killed between 10pm and 10.30pm on June 21 when he was returning home on a two-wheeler after closing his shop. PTI