[2][3][4] Lal was killed for allegedly sharing a social media post in support of Indian politician and Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma, whose comments led to the 2022 Muhammad remarks controversy.
[7] Local authorities announced a curfew and blocked internet access after videos of the attack went viral on social media, triggering mass outrage across India.
After subduing Lal, the two accused dragged him out of the shop and slit his throat with a makeshift dagger made at their welding workshop.
[13] In what seems to be a second video (taken after the attack), they boasted about the murder to avenge the insult to Islam[16] and also made threats against India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Such as those of Pakistani Punjab governor Salman Taseer by his bodyguard Malik Mumtaz Qadri recently in 2011 or of Mahashe Rajpal, publisher of Rangila Rasul, by Ilm-ud-din before partition in 1929.
[26][30][27] This variance between the Deobandis and Barelvis might be linked to juridical differences between the two groups, where the former believes foremost in achieving an Islamic administration in a country before meting out punishment according to sharia while the latter in 'instant justice'.
[26] The recent rise in such lynching cases has been attributed to Khadim Hussain Rizvi, follower of Barelvi founder Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi hence the surname "Rizvi" and leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, who popularized the slogan "Gustakh-e-Rasul/Nabi ki ek hi saza, sar tan se juda" (lit.
[31] In a 2020 post on Facebook, Attari had been described by a local Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader as a "dedicated worker of the BJP".
[37] United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric called for religious harmony and peace globally in response to Kanhaiya Lal's murder.
Religious body Jamaat-e-Islami Hind called the incident "barbaric, Uncivilized and there is no room for Justification of violence in Islam.
[43] Dutch politician Geert Wilders condemned the incident and cautioned the Indian Hindus against "appeasement of Muslims".
[44] Amnesty International condemned the incident and urged the Indian government to take action against killers.