Bajrang Dal and VHP shove the issue under the carpet after learning that the accused, Rohan Nishad, was not a Muslim
FATEHPUR — Tension gripped the Ashok Nagar area of Fatehpur on Wednesday morning after a man killed a cow that had entered his home. The man, identified as 30-year-old Rohan Nishad, is a graduate of IIT Madras and had returned home recently after quitting a high-paying job abroad.
The incident happened around 8.30 am when a stray cow entered the Nishad family’s house. Neighbours say Rohan got angry and attacked the cow with a sharp weapon, killing it on the spot. Locals rushed to the house after hearing loud noises and were shocked to find the killed animal.
According to police, Rohan then threatened neighbours who tried to stop him. One of the locals quickly called the Dial 112 emergency number. Soon, Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) members reached the spot and began protesting. However, their anger cooled once they realised that the accused was not Muslim.
“When we heard about the killing of the cow, we rushed to the spot. But after learning that the person is not from the Muslim community, we stepped back,” said a local VHP worker who did not wish to be named.
Rohan’s father, Mohan Nishad, a retired Subedar Major from the Indian Army, told police that his son had been facing mental health issues for several months.
“My son is an IIT graduate. He was working abroad and earning ₹18 lakh per year. But he quit his job and returned home. Since then, he has not been mentally stable and is under treatment,” he said.
Senior officials, including SDM Sadar Archana Agnihotri and City CO, rushed to the area along with a heavy police force. “We took the accused into custody. He appears mentally disturbed, but we are investigating the matter from every angle,” said a police officer at the scene.
The crowd remained calm after police action, but some residents also complained about illegal construction near the Nishad house. Acting on the complaints, the administration brought in a bulldozer and demolished the encroachment near the drain.
“There were complaints of illegal construction. We took immediate action and cleared the area,” said a local officer.
Despite the sensitivity of the issue, the situation remained under control. “There is peace in the area now. Police are deployed to ensure safety,” said Fatehpur SP (Superintendent of Police) in a brief statement.
The incident has sparked discussion over how reactions differ based on the identity of the accused. Many locals were surprised by how quickly the protest ended once the man was identified as non-Muslim.
A resident who witnessed the chaos said, “If the accused had been a Muslim, the situation would have turned worse. But because Rohan is Hindu, everything calmed down quickly.”
Police say they are awaiting a medical report and will take further steps as per the law. Meanwhile, Rohan remains in custody and is likely to be sent for a mental health evaluation.
