Gurugram: As communal clashes in Haryana’s Nuh district claimed five lives so far and left several injured, one name that centred the whole issue which led to the violence is ‘Monu Manesar’, who was linked to the killing of two alleged cow smugglers in Bhiwani this February
Days prior to the clashes, Monu Manesar posted a video on social media, expressing his intention to take part in the ‘shobha yatra’ and encouraging a large turnout of people to join him.
Despite his plans, the police in Manesar intervened and prevented him from attending the religious procession. However, Manesar’s likely participation was one of the reasons that sparked the violence in the first place.
But, Who Is Monu Manesar?
Monu Manesar a.k.a Mohit Yadav is a member of the Bajrang Dal and a self-proclaimed cow vigilante hailing from Manesar near Gurugram. He gained notoriety as the leader of the Goraksha Dal, a cow protection task force unit associated with the Bajrang Dal in Haryana.
Monu Manesar’s rise to fame is closely linked to his vigilantism targeting alleged cow smugglers. His approach involves receiving tips from night shift workers regarding suspicious vehicles involved in cattle transportation, which he then reports to the police.
If the police fail to respond promptly, Manesar and his associates take the matter into their own hands, detaining the suspects and handing them over to law enforcement.
However, Monu Manesar’s actions have stirred controversy and received criticism, particularly due to his alleged involvement in the deaths of two individuals from the minority community.
Nasir and Junaid, both residents of Ghatmeeka village in Bharatpur district, Rajasthan, were reportedly abducted by cow vigilantes on February 15. Tragically, their charred bodies were discovered in a car in Loharu, Bhiwani, Haryana, the following day.
In connection with this incident, the Rajasthan Police filed a chargesheet naming Monu Manesar as a defendant. Despite the accusations of kidnapping and murder, Monu Manesar denies any wrongdoing and is currently evading authorities.
Monu Manesar also maintains a significant presence on social media. With over two lakh subscribers on YouTube and 83,000 followers on Facebook, he regularly shares live-streamed videos of him and his team pursuing vehicles suspected of illegally transporting cattle.
These posts, which glorify their activities, have attracted a large following and further fueled the controversy surrounding his actions.