Faridabad: Cow Vigilante Network Under Scrutiny After Teen’s Fatal Shooting
Faridabad, 4th September 2024: A late-night trip to a mall for noodles ended tragically for Aryan Mishra, who was shot and killed by cow vigilantes on August 24. What started as an ordinary outing with neighbors quickly escalated into a deadly chase, raising serious questions about the actions of the vigilante group and their motive behind pursuing Aryan and his companions.
Aryan, along with his landlady, her sons Harshit and Shanky, and their neighbor Kriti Sharma, set out in a Duster SUV for the trip. The tragic incident unfolded when a group of self-styled cow protectors, led by Anil Kaushik, mistook them for cattle smugglers. Sources familiar with the investigation suggest that a misleading tip-off about the vehicle allegedly transporting beef may have been the catalyst for the fatal chase.
“Anil and his team received specific information about the Duster, claiming it was involved in smuggling beef,” revealed a source connected to the probe. “When the occupants of the SUV sped off, the vigilantes assumed the tip-off was accurate and pursued the car.” Despite the chase, the reasons behind the use of firearms remain unclear. “It’s perplexing why the gau rakshaks resorted to shooting, especially from behind a moving car. One bullet fatally struck Aryan, seated in the front passenger seat, while those in the rear were unharmed,” the source added.
Shanky, who was in the back seat, initially thought they were being pursued by either police officers in civilian clothing or individuals from a rival family with whom he had a history of conflict. Authorities are now investigating the origin of the tip-off and whether it might have been influenced by Shanky’s adversaries.
The two vehicles raced along the Delhi-Agra highway via Badkhal Road, with the vigilantes in a Swift car firing shots at the Duster. One bullet struck Aryan in the neck. As Aryan bled profusely, Harshit, the driver, stopped near the Gadpuri toll plaza. But the vigilantes closed in, walked up to the SUV, and shot Aryan again before fleeing the scene.
An additional layer of complexity surrounds Shanky’s involvement. He had been arrested on August 24 in connection with an attempted murder case and was released on bail prior to the incident.
In a statement to reporters, Anil Kaushik’s mother, Rajesh Devi, defended her son’s actions. “He told me the people in the other vehicle fired at them first. He thought they were cow smugglers. My son had no connection with Aryan, nor any personal grudge. I don’t know who fired the shot that killed the boy. Only God knows the truth,” she said.
When asked for a comment, Faridabad Police ACP (Crime) Aman Yadav declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
As the investigation continues, the case has once again highlighted concerns over vigilante networks and their unchecked actions, prompting calls for stricter oversight.
