Unafraid of consequences, cow militia leader Monu Manesar accused of killing two Muslim men, mocks police in Haryana by posting videos of roaming around freely with his gang.
Haryana: At Second ‘Hindu Mahapanchayat’ For Monu Manesar, Calls for Anti-Muslim Violence ( The Wire )
‘This is a conspiracy by Rajasthan Police against Monu Manesar. We are ready to take lives and give our lives for Monu Manesar.’
Cow militia leader Monu Manesar who is accused of killing and then burning the bodies of two Muslim men in Haryana state, mocks police by posting videos of roaming around freely with his gang.
Cow militia leader Monu Manesar who is accused of killing and then burning the bodies of two Muslim men in Haryana state, mocks police by posting videos of roaming around freely with his gang. pic.twitter.com/EtpXam3bef
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) April 21, 2023
Earlier, a ‘Hindu Mahapanchayat’, called by members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad at Hathin in Haryana on February 22 gathered in support of cow vigilante Monu Manesar, inciting violence against Muslims and police who try to take action against Monu.
The Hathin event was attended by more than 400 members and leaders of the Bajrang Dal, VHP and Hindu Sena from across north India. It was also attended by locals.
The first such ‘Hindu Mahapanchayat’ was held in the Manesar town of Haryana on Tuesday, February 21. In it, speakers warned police against acting against Monu, a Bajrang Dal leader and member of the Haryana cow protection task force. Monu is named in an FIR on the brutal killing of Junaid and Nasir, two Muslim men who cow vigilantes allegedly set ablaze after accusing them of illegally transporting cows.
Shortly after this ‘Hindu Mahapanchayat’ ended, Rajasthan Police released a new list of eight ‘wanted’ persons in this case along with their photographs. The names and photos of Monu Manesar and Lokesh Singhla were missing from the list, even though they have not been arrested yet. Bharatpur Police (in Rajasthan) has claimed that investigations are still on against Monu and Lokesh.
“The news which is being circulated is misleading, we have also clarified it through Twitter and Facebook. He is still wanted,” Bharatpur SP Shyam Singh told The Wire.
In the first ‘Mahapanchayat’, speakers had also threatened to block the highway if Monu – who has been linked to more than one incident of cow vigilantes killing Muslim men after raising cow transporting accusations – is arrested.
Who is Monu Manesar, Bajrang Dal member accused in Bhiwani deaths case
Charred remains of two men were found in a car in Haryana’s Bhiwani. Their family members have alleged that the two were abducted by cow vigilantes associated with the Bajrang Dal. One of the accused, Monu Manesar, member of Cow Protection Task Force, has said in a video that he was being framed.
What is Cow Vigilante?
In India, the term “cow vigila nteviolence” refers to the use of physical force under the pretext of “cow protection.” These violent mob attacks have gained prominence since 2014, with the majority targeting illegal cow smugglers, but sometimes even licensed cow traders are not spared.
There is ongoing debate regarding whether the number of such incidents has actually increased or decreased, as government data suggests a decrease in communal tensions following 2014.
Most states in India have banned cattle slaughter. However, newly emerged cow vigilante groups claim to be protecting cattle and have resorted to violent means, resulting in several deaths.
These groups see themselves as preventing cattle theft and smuggling, protecting cows, or upholding state laws that ban cow slaughter. According to a Reuters report, between 2010 and mid-2017, a total of 63 cow vigilante attacks occurred in India, with the majority taking place after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014. The report further states that 28 Indians (24 of whom were Muslims) were killed and 124 injured in these attacks.