Aryan Mishra, a 19-year-old mistaken for a Muslim, was shot and killed by members of the Bajrang Dal in Haryana, sparking outrage and grief among his family
Team Clarion
PALWAL – Uma, the grieving mother of Aryan Mishra, the 19-year-old student of Haryana who was recently killed by Bajrang Dal cow vigilantes who mistook Aryan for a Muslim, has questioned the motives behind the killing, asking, “Are Muslims not humans? Are they not our brothers? Why would you kill a Muslim?”
In a harrowing incident that has left Aryan’s family devastated, the Grade XII student was killed near the Gadpuri toll plaza on National Highway 19 in Haryana’s Palwal district on August 23.
The attackers mistook Aryan for a Muslim and believed he was involved in cow smuggling. His mother, Uma, now seeks answers as she grieves for her son.
“Are Muslims not human? Are they not our brothers? Why would you kill a Muslim?” Uma asked in anguish while speaking to Journo Mirror. Her heart-wrenching words highlight the deep pain felt by a family that has become a symbol of a growing issue of religious intolerance in the region.
According to reports, Aryan and his friends, Harshit and Shanky, set out in their Duster SUV to grab a late-night meal. The group was intercepted by men linked to Bajrang Dal, led by local Hindutva leader Anil Kaushik. They had reportedly received information about alleged “cow smugglers” in the area.
The attackers chased Aryan’s car for around 50 km before opening fire. A bullet struck Aryan in the head, while another hit his chest. He was rushed to the nearest hospital but succumbed to his injuries a day later.
Aryan’s father, Siyanand Mishra, later visited Anil Kaushik in jail and was told that the killing was a mistake. “He (Kaushik) said he thought my son was a Muslim. Now he regrets killing a Brahmin,” Mishra recounted. The distraught father added, “I asked Kaushik, ‘Why would you kill a Muslim? Only because of a cow?’ You could have shot at the car wheel or called the police. Why take the law in your own hands?” Kaushik reportedly had no response.
Aryan’s death has drawn attention to the violent activities of self-proclaimed “cow protectors” in the area, with Kaushik being referred to locally as the “Monu Manesar of Faridabad,” a figure infamous for his anti-Muslim actions. The group, which included Kaushik, Varun Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Adesh Singh, and Saurav Kumar, has since been arrested under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including those relating to murder and unlawful assembly.
Aryan’s mother continues to question the motives behind the killing, asking, “Muslims protect us. Why would you kill them?” Her words echo the broader concerns about religious violence and mob justice becoming rampant in parts of India.
This tragic event has sent shockwaves across the region, with many questioning the growing influence of vigilante groups operating under the guise of protecting cows, and the rising tide of religious intolerance that leaves families like Aryan’s shattered.
