Teen killed by cow vigilantes in Haryana’s Palwal: Chargesheet says accused chanced upon deceased and friends, mistook them for cattle smugglers

As per police, the accused, who were in a Maruti Swift, chased the vehicle for 30 km before Anil allegedly opened fire, killing Aryan, a Class 12 student. The accused are Faridabad residents.

The chargesheet contained the statements of 40 witnesses and the five accused. Moreover, two new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) were added to the FIR. The initial FIR was registered under BNS sections like murder and rioting, among others, and under the Arms Act.

According to Anil’s disclosure statement, who allegedly fired at Aryan with his illegal pistol around 11.45 pm, Saurabh arrived at his house on a motorcycle. Shortly thereafter, Adesh arrived in his Swift car along with Krishna and Varun.

The chargesheet quoted Anil’s statement to the police: “(Anil) received information… about the deaths of two bulls near Parvatiya Colony, Faridabad, due to electrocution, which had caused a public blockade… all boarded Adesh’s car and went to the spot… there, we managed to convince the crowd to clear the blockade… To ensure that cattle smugglers do not transport cows, we regularly patrol the area at night in (Adesh’s) car. Adesh had installed red and blue police style lights in his car so that cattle smugglers, upon seeing the car, would flee…”

According to the chargesheet, the accused reached the intersection near then MLA Seema Trikha’s house when they saw the Renault Duster. “Upon seeing our car, the Duster reversed and fled. We suspected they were cattle smugglers. As soon as they turned their car, I fired a shot into the air. After that, we began chasing their car. They sped off through the route near MLA Seema Trikha’s house… heading toward Palwal. We followed closely behind,” the statement added.

Anil said that when the car did not stop, he fired shots at them “with the intention to kill”. “They broke through the Gadpuri toll plaza and reached Bhagola village in Palwal, where they stopped. Even then, I fired at the man sitting in the conductor’s seat with the intent to kill him,” he added.

Anil has claimed in his statement that he came in touch with the other four accused via Live for Nation. He added that they frequently travelled in Adesh’s car or other vehicles to serve cows in Faridabad city and other locations.

Initially, Anil had said he got the pistol for Rs 10,000 from a person named Salim in Etah. But during his extended police remand, he said it was purchased from one Pawan from Palwal.

In his complaint, Aryan’s father Siya Nand Mishra had alleged that his son had gone for a drive with his friends Harshit Gulati and Sagar Gulati – both brothers. They were reportedly accompanied by Harshit and Sagar’s mother, Sujata Gulati, and a neighbour, Kirti Sharma. The Renault Duster was owned by Harshit. Aryan and his family are the Gulatis’ tenants.

The chargesheet stated, “During investigation… Harshit Gulati, Sujata, Harshit’s mother, and neighbour Kriti Sharma, along with other family members, were also questioned. However… no evidence was found implicating them in the crime… they were declared government witnesses…”