Rajasthan police has finally got the custody of Monu Manesar and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said there would be zero mercy on Monu Manesar.
Advocate Ashutosh Dubey from the BJP probably in support of Monu Manesar says:
“Exactly who is Monu Manesar, you must read. Mohit Yadav, alias Monu Manesar, has a diploma from a polytechnic college. – He is the head of the Gau Rakshak task force, which guards cows, for the Bajrang Dal in Haryana. He enjoys a strong reputation thanks to his accomplishments in capturing cattle traffickers. He even got a silver play button once his YouTube channel attracted 100,000 subscribers. Monu has been classified as a criminal by the entire left cabal despite allegedly being involved in a murder case for which the police investigation is still underway. Monu Manesar was handed over to Rajasthan Police, named in an FIR lodged by Rajasthan Police after two Muslim men were found dead in a burnt car in Haryana’s Bhiwani.”
https://x.com/AdvAshutoshBJP/status/1701630417671991706?s=20
Who is Monu Manesar?
Monu Manesar a Bajrang Dal member, was also wanted in connection with the murder of two Muslim men from Rajasthan in February. He was accused of involvement in violence in Nuh, Haryana, and is currently in custody. Haryana authorities are preparing to transfer him to the Rajasthan Police. Monu Manesar faces allegations in the Naseer-Junaid murder case and is additionally accused of being involved in the mob lynching of these two individuals. Monu, also known as Mohit Yadav, hails from Manesar, Haryana, and is affiliated with the Bajrang Dal while identifying as a cow protector.
ADG Mamta Singh has confirmed that authorities have notified the relevant states where FIRs have been filed against Monu Manesar. Both Gurugram Police and Rajasthan Police have been informed of the situation. Following interrogation, Haryana Police will hand over Monu to Rajasthan Police, with Bharatpur police in Rajasthan expected to conduct further questioning.
Regarding the case, ADG Law and Order Mamta Singh explained that on August 28, Monu Manesar posted an incendiary message on social media regarding his arrest. The social media monitoring team verified the inflammatory content during their investigation, leading to Monu Manesar’s arrest by Nuh police. Information regarding his arrest will be conveyed to the police in states where he is wanted, and authorities from those states will take custody of Monu as necessary, following legal procedures.
Rajasthan Police sources have indicated that Haryana Police detained Monu Manesar under bailable sections of the IT Act, and he is expected to be granted bail in Haryana. Subsequently, Rajasthan Police will take custody of him in connection with the Naseer and Junaid murder case. Police officials have identified him as the main conspirator in the aforementioned murder case.
Monu Manesar is the head of the Goraksha Dal, a cow protection task force unit within the Bajrang Dal in Haryana. Monu Manesar’s involvement in the Nuh violence case, which occurred on July 31, 2023, came to light when an inflammatory video featuring him alongside Bittu Bajrangi went viral on social media. This video was allegedly recorded prior to the outbreak of violence. In light of his detention, a senior officer from the Rajasthan Police, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the Haryana Police had detained Monu Manesar and would hand him over to the Rajasthan Police.
Why is it important that Monu Manesar is arrested?
Failing to arrest people committing homicides and using terms like “cow vigilantes” actually serves to romanticize criminal activities through the use of milder euphemisms. Gradually, as time passes, various forms of criminal behavior may find shelter under different guises of protecting “their religion.” It is crucial to unequivocally label murder as murder and uphold the equal application of the law for all citizens. This fosters a sense of security and justice. Without this assurance, people might resort to taking matters into their own hands, fearing that the judiciary will not act in their favor. Notably, incidents of cow vigilante actions surged in the lead-up to the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election.
Sushil Kumar Modi, a prominent figure in the BJP, characterized the election as a showdown between those who consume beef and those who oppose cow slaughter. This led to a great divide in society.
In a 2016 report, The Economist shed light on the profitability of cow vigilantism, citing an investigation by Indian Express. It revealed that vigilante groups in Punjab were charging cattle transporters 200 rupees ($3) per cow to avoid harassment during transportation.
Delving into the motivations behind vigilantism, a French political scientist and Indologist specializing in South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan said that extreme groups seek to internally reshape society by instilling a sense of discipline, which it deems essential for a more effective defense of Hindu interests. Jaffrelot also asserts that Hindu nationalists aim to minimize the state’s authority over society, preferring societal self-regulation with a strong emphasis on social order and hierarchy, integral to the Hindutva ideology.
According to Jaffrelot, this approach grants policing actions a heightened legitimacy and aligns closely with populist behavior, where the will of the people takes precedence over established laws and institutions.
Jaffrelot further added, “The fact that the vigilantes ‘take matters into their own hands’ is advantageous for those in power. The state can distance itself from direct involvement in violence, framing it as spontaneous action undertaken by followers of Hinduism in defense of their religion. This arrangement operates within intricate moral and political frameworks: it allows the state to avoid openly targeting minorities, yet it keeps majoritarian sentiments appeased. Private militia groups, often instrumental in polarizing society ahead of elections, also benefit. Not only do they assert their influence, but they often extort funds (violence tends to escalate when their demands are unmet, as evidenced by recent cases of lynching).”
Cow vigilantes killed at least 44 people in three years, a report from Reuters finds while nearly 300 people have been injured in more than 100 attacks by cow vigilantes between May 2015 and December 2018.
Yet in all this, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, India was the global largest beef exporter in 2015, surpassing more recognized exporters such as Brazil and Australia. While beef is obviously exported through governmental sources, victims in the field are being slaughtered by murderers who get away with such crimes in the name of cow protection. In the end, who is really protecting the cows? While checking on the cowsheds, most of the cows live in deplorable circumstances or roam the roads uncared for, often infested with diseases or bitten by snakes. Meanwhile, humans are being criminalized and worse, killed without reason, often with false allegations of cow slaughter. With a feeling of entitlement, such situations will only increase and trigger wider divides between communities.