"No Direct Involvement Of Monu Manesar In Nasir-Junaid Murder": Rajasthan DGP As Mewatis Claim Police Inaction

The Director General of Police in Rajasthan, Umesh Mishra denied the direct involvment of Monu Manesar in the Nasir-Junaid murder case on Monday (14 August).

Speaking at a press conference, he conveyed, "I would like to apprise you that there is no direct implication of Monu (Manesar) in this incident. However, his involvement in the background is still under scrutiny."

Subsequently, the state police issued a statement clarifying, "It should be clarified that both the DGP of Rajasthan and the Rajasthan Police have not exonerated Monu Manesar from the Nasir Junaid murder case."

The Rajasthan Police shared on X, "Monu remains a named defendant in the FIR. An active investigation is underway into his role in conspiring and aiding this grave offense."

During an interaction with journalists, Mishra explained that Monu was not present at the location of the double murder. The police were focused on determining whether he had any indirect involvement in the case. To date, 10 individuals have been apprehended in the case.

Monu Manesar, a prominent figure associated with cow vigilantism in Haryana, stands among the 21 accused individuals named in the FIR pertaining to the murders of Junaid (35) and Nasir (27).

The victims hail from Ghatmika village in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district. The charred remains of the two cousins were discovered in a vehicle near Loharu town in Bhiwani, Haryana, on 16 February.

Additionally, Monu was also alleged to have made inflammatory statements prior to recent communal disturbances in Nuh, Haryana. He has, however, refuted any wrongdoing on his part.

It should be noted that Manesar was not named as the key accused in the chargesheet in May. This has been in public knowledge for four months. Yet, a section of communal media and politicians has been falsely calling him the main accused in the deaths.

After Nuh Violence on the Hindu procession, the media is also mindlessly reporting statements of Mewatis that “no action has been taken by police in Nasir and Junaid’s deaths” just because Manesar is free.

Key accused are arrested and facing trial Manesar has been used as a tool for further fueling the perception that state institutions are against Muslims and they should take up arms.

Umesh Mishra emphasized that Rajasthan police teams had conducted inquiries in Nuh and had sought assistance from the Haryana police. The main concern was actionable intelligence. If such intelligence is available, Monu would be apprehended.

Furthermore, he stated, "Commenting on the extent of support from Haryana police in this matter would not be suitable. We have solicited assistance from the Haryana police to apprehend the remaining culprits."

Recently, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused his Haryana counterpart, Manohar Lal Khattar, of diverting attention from his inability to quell communal violence in Nuh by asserting that Rajasthan police had the freedom to take action against cow vigilantes. Gehlot also noted that the Haryana police were not cooperating in the Nasir-Junaid murder case.

The families of Junaid and Nasir had alleged that members of the Bajrang Dal were responsible for their kidnapping, assault, and murder – a claim that the group has denied.

A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed the identities of the charred bodies as Junaid and Nasir. Blood stains discovered in a vehicle, where they were purportedly abducted, were also found to match.

Monu, a local member of the Bajrang Dal, oversees a regional network of cow protectors and shares videos on social media platforms depicting his pursuit of alleged cow smugglers. Since being implicated along with others in the high-profile murder case, Monu has been on the run.