Bajrang Dal office-bearers are often associated with cow vigilantism and have been accused of lynching individuals, mostly Muslims, only on the mere suspicion of transporting cattle.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — District chief of Bajrang Dal in the western Uttar Pradesh city of Moradabad, Sumit Bishnoi alias Monu, and three others were arrested for allegedly paying a man to slaughter a cow in a bid to create communal tension in the area and defame a local police officer.
Bajrang Dal office-bearers are often associated with cow vigilantism and have been accused of lynching individuals, mostly Muslims, only on the mere suspicion of transporting cattle.
The four have been arrested for allegedly planting cow carcasses with malicious intent.
Police officials said cow carcasses were found on in Moradabad’s Chhajlet police station limits on January 16 and 28, reports reaching here said on Friday.
Besides Bishnoi, those arrested include Rajiv Chowdhary, Raman Chowdhary, and Shahabuddin. “Shahabuddin slaughtered cows and planted carcasses at the behest of Sumit Bishnoi and Rajiv Chowdhary, intending to remove the Chhajlet police station in-charge and frame Shahabuddin’s rival in the matter,” Moradabad Senior Superintendent of police (SSP), Hemraj Meena, was quoted as saying.
“Sub-inspector Narendra Kumar of Chhajlet police station has been suspended for having connivance with the accused,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chhajlet police station in-charge, Satyendra Sharma confirmed that Bishnoi is the district chief of Moradabad Bajrang Dal unit while Rajiv Chowdhary is the block-level worker of the outfit.
Sharing further details, the SSP said the detailed investigation was initiated when the second carcass was recovered on January 28, as this time some cow vigilantes posted the video of cow slaughtering to senior state authorities demanding action against the local police station in-charge.
“During investigation, name of one Shahabuddin surfaced and during interrogation the whole conspiracy was revealed by him,” Meena added.
“Monu Bishnoi wanted to create trouble in the area and also had a tiff with the local SHO. He committed these acts to cause tension in the area and to cause harm to the reputation of the police as he believed it would lead to some departmental action against the SHO,” said the officer.
In the press note shared by Moradabad police, the police officials stated the first cow carcass was recovered from Kanwar Path near Samad village under Chhajlet police station on January 16. After the recovery of carcass, Bajrang Dal office-bearers staged a protest at Kanth block office, demanding action against the local SHO and alleged one Mehmood for cow slaughtering.
However, an FIR was lodged against unknown individuals under section 3/4/5 of UP Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act in connection with the incident and no action was taken against Mehmood as his involvement was not established during the probe.
The second time, the carcass was planted, and the video was posted on X with the sole motive of removing the SHO. Moreover, they tried to frame Mehmood as he has enmity with Shahabuddin. However, the entire conspiracy turned against the accused, the press note said.
