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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Thursday questioned his Haryana counterpart’s offer of help in arresting Bajrang Dal member Monu Manesar, bringing up the “non-cooperation” by the neighbouring state’s police in the case of the murder of Nasir and Junaid by alleged cow vigilantes in February.
Gehlot’s remarks came a day after Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the Rajasthan Police was free to act against the cow vigilante, an accused in February’s case who has come under the scanner for his alleged role in provoking the Nuh violence.
The Rajasthan CM said Khattar was trying to divert attention from the communal clashes. He posted on X (formerly Twitter): “The Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr. Manohar Lal Khattar gives a statement in the media that he will help the Rajasthan Police in every possible way. But when our police went to arrest the accused in the Nasir-Junaid murder case, the Haryana Police did not cooperate, and even registered an FIR against the Rajasthan Police. The Haryana Police is not cooperating with the Rajasthan Police in finding the accused, who are absconding.”
Nasir, 25, and Junaid, 35, residents of Ghatmeeka village in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district, had gone missing on February 15. A day later, their charred bodies were found in Loharu in Haryana’s Bhiwani district. They were allegedly killed by vigilantes who suspected that they were illegally transporting cattle. The victims’ families have alleged the involvement of the Bajrang Dal in the case. The outfit has denied the accusation.
“Mr. Khattar failed to stop the violence in Haryana and is now giving such statements only to divert the attention of the people, which is not appropriate,” Gehlot said Thursday.
A video shared by Monu Manesar (whose real name is Mohit Yadav), ahead of the Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Haryana’s Nuh, was among the factors that purportedly flared tempers in the region. “I will be in the yatra in person and my whole team will also be present,” he had said in a video posted as his WhatsApp status on July 29.
Khattar said Wednesday at a press conference: “As far as Monu Manesar is concerned, the last FIR was filed against him in Rajasthan. We have told the Rajasthan government that we are ready to help them in locating him. Since the Rajasthan Police is searching for him we don’t have the inputs on his whereabouts. Rajasthan Police is free to act against him.”
In May, the Rajasthan Police had filed a charge-sheet in the Nasir-Junaid case against three people. Investigation was kept pending against 27 others, including Yadav.
Meanwhile, responding to the Rajasthan government’s remarks on Yadav, Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Home) T V S N Prasad said: “The CM has clearly said yesterday that whatever help they need will be given. I am not aware of any request of Rajasthan Police. If it comes, we will give full assistance.” Asked about action by the Haryana Police against Yadav, Prasad said: “It is a matter of investigation. We cannot work on conjectures. We have to give evidence before courts.”
Yadav had told The Indian Express in June that he was not evading police in the Nasir-Junaid case, but was on a pilgrimage in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Yadav, the head of Gurgaon district’s cow protection force, had said at the time: “I haven’t got a notice from any police, Rajasthan or Haryana. If they call me for questioning, I will co-operate.”
– With inputs from Pavneet Singh Chadha in Panaji
