The killing of 19-year-old Aryan Mishra, a Class XII student, by the self-styled cow protectors associated with the Hindutva group in Haryana’s Palwal district, after mistaking him for a Muslim cow smuggler, led the grieving mother of the victim to question the motive behind the killing, asking, even if he were a Muslim, does this killing become justified? Are Muslims not human?
Aryan Mishra was fatally shot by men affiliated with the Hindutva group Bajrang Dal on August 23.
The incident unfolded near the Gadpuri toll plaza on NH-19 when Aryan's car was pursued for approximately 50 km by the accused, led by local Hindutva leader Anil Kaushik, who claims to be a “cow protector.” The chase ended with Aryan being shot dead.
Uma, Aryan Mishra mother, who was killed by self-proclaimed 'Gou Rakshaks', expressed her grief and said, "They shot my son thinking he was a Muslim. Are Muslims not Humans, Are they not our brothers? Why would you kill a Muslim? Muslims protect us."
Adding to the controversy, Anil Kaushik reportedly told Aryan’s father, Siyanand Mishra, that the attackers initially believed Aryan was a Muslim and now regret killing a Brahmin.
This revelation further intensified the public's outrage. Siyanand Mishra expressed his disbelief and frustration, questioning why the vigilantes took the law into their own hands instead of contacting the police.
In response to the incident, civil society groups and human rights organizations have demanded strict action against the perpetrators. The accused—Anil Kaushik, Varun Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Adesh Singh, and Saurav Kumar—have been arrested under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including charges of murder and unlawful assembly.