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The tragic death of 19-year-old Aryan Mishra in Faridabad, Haryana, has sent shockwaves through the nation, highlighting the dangers of vigilante justice and the urgent need for accountability. The incident, captured on CCTV footage, reveals a chilling account of a group of self-proclaimed cow vigilantes who mistook Aryan for a cattle smuggler, leading to his fatal shooting.
On the night of August 24th, Aryan, along with his friends Harshit and Shanky, were out for dinner. Their car, a red Renault Duster, was followed by a Maruti Suzuki Swift driven by the accused vigilantes: Anil Kaushik, Varun, Krishna, Adesh, and Saurabh. The vigilantes, having received information about suspected cattle smugglers in the area, assumed Aryan and his friends were the perpetrators. The footage shows the Swift tailing the Duster for nearly 30 kilometers, a clear indication of their intent to apprehend the group.
The accused claimed that they asked Aryan's car to stop, but the driver accelerated, prompting them to open fire. However, the CCTV footage shows the Duster attempting to escape a barrier at a toll plaza, suggesting that the vigilantes' narrative of the car accelerating may be a fabricated attempt to justify their actions. The fatal shot pierced the rear window of the Duster, fatally injuring Aryan, who was sitting in the front passenger seat. Harshit, who was driving, pulled over, but the assailants approached the car and fired another shot, striking Aryan directly in the chest, killing him instantly.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with many questioning the lack of due process and the blatant disregard for human life demonstrated by the vigilantes. The accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody, and police have recovered their illegal weapon and the car used in the crime. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of vigilantism and the importance of upholding the rule of law. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive reforms to address the root causes of such violence, including tackling misinformation and promoting a culture of respect for the law.
Source: On CCTV: Cow vigilantes chase Haryana student's car moments before killing him