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In a chilling incident that underscores the dangers of vigilante justice and the growing menace of cow vigilantism in India, a 12th-grade student, Aryan Mishra, was tragically killed in Haryana's Faridabad after being mistaken for a cow smuggler by a group of self-proclaimed cow protectors. The incident unfolded on August 23 when Mishra was returning home with four friends in a Duster SUV after having snacks. Their journey took a horrifying turn when a group of vigilantes, acting on a “tip-off” about suspected cow smugglers in SUVs, intercepted their vehicle on an isolated stretch near Gadpuri on the Delhi-Agra National Highway.
The vigilantes, who were later identified as Anil Kaushik, Varun Kumar, Krishan Singh, and Adesh Singh, allegedly associated with a “cow protection group,” demanded the SUV to stop. When the driver, Harshit Singh, refused, a high-speed chase ensued, spanning approximately 50 kilometers. The pursuit ended in a horrific tragedy when the vigilantes opened fire on the SUV near the Gadpuri toll plaza. The gunfire shattered the rear window and struck Mishra, who was seated next to the driver, in the neck. The assailants then fired a second shot at the car, this time hitting Mishra in the chest.
Police investigations revealed that the vigilantes had mistaken the occupants of the Duster for smugglers and believed they might retaliate with gunfire once the car stopped. After the car halted, the vigilantes, fearing for their lives, fired a second time, tragically killing Mishra. The remaining occupants, with their hands raised in surrender, were left traumatized as they witnessed the senseless killing. It was only after seeing two women in the vehicle that the vigilantes, realizing their mistake, fled the scene.
The arrested vigilantes, produced in court on Friday, were remanded in 14-day judicial custody. They were found to have used an illegal firearm to carry out the murder. Police recovered the weapon and the car used in the crime, relying on CCTV footage captured at the Gadpuri toll plaza which showed the vigilantes chasing Mishra’s car. The suspects reportedly claimed they had received information from an informant about cattle smugglers operating in Duster and Fortuner vehicles, transporting animals in containers. They spotted the Duster at Patel Chowk and attempted to stop it, igniting the fatal chase.
This horrifying incident comes just days after another brutal case of mob violence in Haryana's Charkhi Dadri. A migrant worker from West Bengal was brutally beaten to death by a mob, including two juveniles, on suspicion of eating beef. These tragic events highlight the alarming rise of vigilantism and intolerance fueled by misinformation and prejudice. It underscores the urgent need for strong law enforcement to prevent such violent incidents and ensure justice for victims. The state must address the root causes of vigilantism and implement stringent measures to curb such heinous crimes, safeguarding the lives and rights of all citizens.
Source: Cow vigilantes mistake Faridabad student for smuggler; kill him after chase