Videos of Shambhu Regar, in jail for killing Muslim labourer, show him abusing Muslims

Two videos purportedly released by Shambhu Lal Regar, who is in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Central Jail for allegedly hacking a Muslim labourer, were being widely circulated on social media on Monday.

In one of the clips, Regar is purportedly alleging threat to his life from cellmate Vasudev Brahman, who he said was from West Bengal. HT can’t independently verify the authenticity of the two clips.

Additional director general of police (prisons) Dr Bhupendra Singh confirmed the video has been shot inside the prison and has been uploaded from there. “We have ordered an inquiry into how a mobile phone made its way into a prison cell and other lapses. Inspector General of Police (prisons) is investigating the case,” he said.

Jail superintendent Vikram Singh lodged an FIR under the Information Technology Act and under the Prisons Act for taking a prohibited item inside the jail at at Ratanada police station.

“The report said the jail authorizes have come to know about a video posted from ward No. 3 of the central jail. The authorities have not recovered any mobile phone during search of the ward. They were interrogating Regar and will inform the police accordingly,” said an officer of the police station, who was not willing to be quoted as he was authorized to speak to media.

Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said the videos clearly showed breach in prison security and connivance between people responsible for providing security and criminals. “A high level enquiry should be ordered in the incident and accountability of police administration should be ensured” he said.

In the video clips, Regar says he’s speaking from Jodhpur central jail and that these were last messages of his life.

Regar had on December 6 allegedly hacked Mohammed Afrazul, a 48-year-old labourer from West Bengal’s Malda, in Rajsamand, accusing him of so-called love jihad.

He also released a video of the crime on social media, ranting against Muslims and Islam. The murder sparked nationwide outrage and stirred communal tension in several areas of the state.

Read: Who is Shambu Lal Regar? A man who didn’t seem capable of murder, say neighbours in Rajasthan

In one of the latest clip he purportedly launches into a tirade against Muslims again. In the second, he hails Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urges West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee “to not destroy the country” and asks people to forget differences to build a strong nation.

In its charge sheet in the Afrajul murder case, the Rajasthan Police have said “love jihad” was a smokescreen created by Regar to hide his illicit relationship with a woman, whom he called his sister.