Jaipur: Mohit Yadav, also known as Monu Manesar, a self-styled cow vigilante and an active member of the right-wing group Bajrang Dal, has reportedly disclosed to the Rajasthan police, who currently have him in custody, that a week before the murder of Nasir and Junaid, the vehicle number and their phone numbers were secretly shared among self-styled cow vigilantes.
Monu Manesar was arrested by Haryana Police for "objectionable" social media posts, and handed over to the Rajasthan Police for questioning regarding the murder case.
According to police officers, self-proclaimed cow vigilantes often share personal details of individuals they suspect of cow smuggling before taking any action. In this case, the registration numbers of Nasir and Junaid's vehicles, along with their phone numbers, were allegedly disseminated among the vigilantes approximately a week before the fatal assault occurred.
The vigilantes, in an attempt to intercept the duo, created a blockade at Peeruka on the Rajasthan-Haryana border, indicating a premeditated knowledge of the victims' route.
While their initial plan was to apprehend the victims and inquire about smuggled cows, the situation escalated, leaving Nasir and Junaid with severe injuries. Allegedly, the vigilantes then sought to hand over the victims to the Haryana Police, who reportedly turned them away, The Indian Express reported quoting an investigation officer.
Junaid succumbed to his injuries in Ferozepur Jhirka, while Nasir was strangled to death in Bhiwani. The vigilantes then doused the vehicle and the bodies with petrol before setting them ablaze in a bid to erase evidence.
Monu Manesar had managed to evade arrest by the Rajasthan Police, possibly due to a network of supporters and a period spent in various locations, including Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Mathura, as well as a brief trip to Thailand.
Despite the serious allegations against him, there were reports of Monu moving freely in Haryana since the murders. He claimed innocence, asserting that he had been on a pilgrimage across multiple states.
His recent involvement in an event, where he initially announced participation in the Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh, escalated tensions in the region. The video he posted allegedly incited violence after leaders from VHP and Bajrang Dal asked him to skip the yatra.