GURGAON: Hundreds of protesters blocked traffic Tuesday afternoon on the Delhi-Jaipur highway after a team of Rajasthani police landed at the home of gau rakshak leader Monu Manesar to serve him a notice to join the investigation into the deaths of two Rajasthani men whose charred bodies were found in Bhiwani on February 16th.
The Bajrang Dal member, who leads a network of gau rakshaks, was booked up on charges of kidnapping along with four of his associates. The families of the victims, Nasir and Junaid, said the two were beaten by a group of vigilantes on suspicion of livestock smuggling and then set on fire.
The protest in Manesar followed a Hindu mahapanchayat held in support of Monu near his home where attendees called for an inquiry by the CBI and a parallel investigation by the Haryana government. While the mahapanchayat was going on, at around 12:30, Monu’s family informed the locals that a team of Rajasthani Police had reached their house which sparked the protest.
Al mahapanchayat, Kulbhushan Bhardwaj, a lawyer and former district chairman of the BJP, said, “The Rajasthan Police filed a fake FIR against Monu Manesar. If they try to harass the gau rakshaks or their families, they will stand here but they won’t come back with the same feet.
Former sarpanch Manesar Omprakash said he was “proud” of Monu, “who risked his life to protect the cows”. “He was part of a special task force for the protection of cows formed by the Haryana government. Monu was targeted because he was causing trouble for cow smugglers. He took a bullet to protect cows and now the police are revoking his firearm license, which is unjustified. His family is constantly receiving threats. The government should ensure their safety,” he added.
Devender Singh Master, one of the protesters, said Monu and his associates were falsely accused of breaking ties with the cow smugglers. “There is no evidence against them. We have no trust in Rajasthan Police and local government so we have requested an investigation by CBI. We are all with Monu and her family and have formed a committee to demand a fair investigation,” he said.
Monu’s family told TOI that they are “continually harassed” by police and said they have no idea where she is. After being booked, Monu posted a video on Twitter, claiming that he and his friends were staying at a hotel on the day of the incident and had nothing to do with the alleged murders.
Mukesh, her mother, said she left for Haridwar on February 17 and has just returned. She hasn’t spoken to Monu since she left. “I don’t know where she is, whether she’s safe or not. The police come every day, ask questions, but I don’t know where they are. Mera beta galat nahi hai, usey fasaya ja raha hai (My son is not wrong, he was framed),” she said.
Protesters on the Delhi-Jaipur roadway were removed within 10 minutes, police said. Due to the short blockage, however, a kilometer-long queue was observed on the IMT Manesar flyover and service road, resulting in growls for almost 45 minutes.
Dinesh Kumar, a commuter stuck in the carriageway, said, “I am going to Jaipur. Traffic was completely blocked for over half an hour. I do not know why.
“The highway was blocked for just 10 minutes and the protesters were quickly removed. Police and highway patrol teams were on the ground to facilitate traffic movement,” a senior police officer said.
Meanwhile, in solidarity with the victims, Rehbar-E-Mewat, a Nuh-based organization, organized a candle march. The participants said that such violence must stop and called for the arrest of all those involved in the alleged murders of Nasir and Junaid.
Clock Haryana: Youths send note to government in support of Monu Manesar accused of killing Nasir and Junaid
The Bajrang Dal member, who leads a network of gau rakshaks, was booked up on charges of kidnapping along with four of his associates. The families of the victims, Nasir and Junaid, said the two were beaten by a group of vigilantes on suspicion of livestock smuggling and then set on fire.
The protest in Manesar followed a Hindu mahapanchayat held in support of Monu near his home where attendees called for an inquiry by the CBI and a parallel investigation by the Haryana government. While the mahapanchayat was going on, at around 12:30, Monu’s family informed the locals that a team of Rajasthani Police had reached their house which sparked the protest.
Al mahapanchayat, Kulbhushan Bhardwaj, a lawyer and former district chairman of the BJP, said, “The Rajasthan Police filed a fake FIR against Monu Manesar. If they try to harass the gau rakshaks or their families, they will stand here but they won’t come back with the same feet.
Former sarpanch Manesar Omprakash said he was “proud” of Monu, “who risked his life to protect the cows”. “He was part of a special task force for the protection of cows formed by the Haryana government. Monu was targeted because he was causing trouble for cow smugglers. He took a bullet to protect cows and now the police are revoking his firearm license, which is unjustified. His family is constantly receiving threats. The government should ensure their safety,” he added.
Devender Singh Master, one of the protesters, said Monu and his associates were falsely accused of breaking ties with the cow smugglers. “There is no evidence against them. We have no trust in Rajasthan Police and local government so we have requested an investigation by CBI. We are all with Monu and her family and have formed a committee to demand a fair investigation,” he said.
Monu’s family told TOI that they are “continually harassed” by police and said they have no idea where she is. After being booked, Monu posted a video on Twitter, claiming that he and his friends were staying at a hotel on the day of the incident and had nothing to do with the alleged murders.
Mukesh, her mother, said she left for Haridwar on February 17 and has just returned. She hasn’t spoken to Monu since she left. “I don’t know where she is, whether she’s safe or not. The police come every day, ask questions, but I don’t know where they are. Mera beta galat nahi hai, usey fasaya ja raha hai (My son is not wrong, he was framed),” she said.
Protesters on the Delhi-Jaipur roadway were removed within 10 minutes, police said. Due to the short blockage, however, a kilometer-long queue was observed on the IMT Manesar flyover and service road, resulting in growls for almost 45 minutes.
Dinesh Kumar, a commuter stuck in the carriageway, said, “I am going to Jaipur. Traffic was completely blocked for over half an hour. I do not know why.
“The highway was blocked for just 10 minutes and the protesters were quickly removed. Police and highway patrol teams were on the ground to facilitate traffic movement,” a senior police officer said.
Meanwhile, in solidarity with the victims, Rehbar-E-Mewat, a Nuh-based organization, organized a candle march. The participants said that such violence must stop and called for the arrest of all those involved in the alleged murders of Nasir and Junaid.
Clock Haryana: Youths send note to government in support of Monu Manesar accused of killing Nasir and Junaid
