Mewat region continues to be in throes of cow vigilantism

The gruesome killing of Junaid and Nasir who were allegedly abducted from Bharatpur, Rajasthan,  by Bajrang Dal ‘Gau Rakshaks’ from Haryana before being set afire in Loharu area in Bhiwani, Haryana has left the entire nation shocked, writes Aayush Goel “We are doomed. He was the only breadwinner in our family and would take care of us and his brother’s family. All I can see now is darkness. The government has announced compensation but tell me can it replace my husband? Will it be enough for me and my 6 children to spend our entire life?” says teary-eyed Sajida, widow of Juniad. Living in fear of cow vigilantism for years, the village of Ghatmika in Bharatpur, Rajasthan is engulfed in angst and gloom. 35-year old Junaid and 27-year old Nasir were allegedly abducted from Bharatpur by Bajrang Dal ‘Gau Rakshaks’ from Haryana and their charred skeletons were found in their car set afire in Loharu area in Bhiwani, Haryana. The gruesome killing has left the entire nation shocked and terrified and yet again highlighted the rampant cow vigilantism in Mewat region spanning across Haryana and Rajasthan. The area has been repeatedly been reporting instances of lynchings and torture in the name of cow protection. “This is not the first time that such an incident has happened. Earlier, we witnessed the brutal killings of Pehlu Khan, Rakbar Khan and Ummar Mohammad in the Mewat region, and now we have lost two more people. This time, the Haryana police helped murderers to kill them. Everyone in this village is scared and we want action, so that no one dies this way in future,” says Jubair, a relative of slain Nasir. The latest gruesome murder where even Haryana police has been accused of connivance has stirred the debate over a 15,000 strong army of Gau Rakshaks in Haryana, their unchecked power and political patronage they allegedly enjoy. “If your police are done with the meat of Biryani on Eid, then tell me when will the killers of Junaid-Nasir be arrested? When will those who spew venom in the Mahapanchayat go to jail? If even the burnt corpses of Junaid-Nasir could not wake up your conscience, then it is the same whether you are Chief Minister or not,” AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi said while addressing Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar. The Loharu immolation The nation woke up to a terrible news on February 15 as skeletons of two men were found in a charred Bolero in Loharu in Bhiwani. The duo were allegedly abducted from Ghatmika village in Bharatpur a night before by Gau Rakshaks. The family went ahead and filed an FIR and a tale of horror unfolded. The investigation of Rajasthan police revealed that a gang of around 10 Gau Rakshaks had picked up the duo accusing them of cow smuggling.