Hindu Procession Attacked In Haryana's Mewat Over 'Gau Rakshak' Monu Manesar's Participation, Thousands Trapped Inside Temple Evacuated

A religious procession by Hindus that started from Gurugram in Haryana was violently obstructed by members of the Muslim community in the state's Nuh district on 31 July.

The procession was pelted with stones, causing communal violence and tension in the area.

The procession, 'Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra', was flagged off from Gurugram’s Civil Lines by Bharatiya Janata Party district president Gargi Kakkar. When it reached Khedla Mod in Nuh, it came under attack, police said, adding that at least four cars were set ablaze.

As per reports, around 2,500 people who were part of the yatra had been trapped inside a temple they used for shelter following incessant attacks from the dominant community.

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij told the media that the government had sent additional troops from neighbouring districts to control the situation, saying that helicopters were being arranged to send the troops.

Internet services have been suspended till Wednesday. Police filed teargas shells to control the situation.

The violence is reportedly spreading to Gurugram too.

As per reports, the trigger of the violence was an announcement made by Bajrang Dal activist and 'gau rakshak' Monu Manesar through social media that he would be joining the religious event at Nuh despite threats given to him. Manesar was named as a suspect by the family of victims in Nasir-Junaid murder case.

The attack was not entirely unexpected as Manesar, facing death threats over his alleged involvement in the case, had released a video a few days ago saying he would not cancel his visit. He had thrown a challenge at his opponents to stop him. Security had already been beefed up in the area, as per reports.

The yatra, conducted annually, sees Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal members visit important temples in the Muslim-dominated Mewat region that is divided between Haryana and Rajasthan. The Nuh district is the Haryana part of Mewat region, where Meo jaati, which is almost wholly Islamised, dominates.

Nasir and Junaid, both Meo and residents of Ghatmika village in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, went missing on February 15. The next day, their charred bodies were found in Loharu in Haryana’s Bhiwani district. Their families accused ‘gau rakshaks’ for their murder, naming Mohit Yadav, who is popular as Monu Manesar, as one of the suspects.

Manesar, in his defense, produced a CCTV footage that he said showed him at a hotel in Gurugram on the night of the alleged crime. In May, the Rajasthan police investigating the case filed the charge-sheet naming Rinku Saini, Monu Rana alias Narendra Kumar and Gogi alias Monu for murder.

Manesar was not named as the key accused but marked for larger investigation.

Manesar is quite popular on YouTube, where he has more than two lakh subscribers, for his videos showing him and his team chasing vehicles suspected of carrying smuggled cattle for slaughter.

After the chargesheet, Manesar was believed to be absconding. However, he reappeared in June and told the media that he was not absconding but was on a pilgrimage in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, visiting temples. “I had not gone anywhere. I was visiting temples across different states. Why would I hide from police when I’ve not done anything?” he said.

Manesar is a hated figure in Mewat region for his 'gau rakshak' activities, and is accused of vigilantism and harassment of Muslims in the name of saving cattle from slaughter.

Mewat, however, is notorious for illegal cow slaughter activities. Swarajya has earlier reported that Punjab and Haryana high court pulled up Haryana police chief over illegal cow slaughter activities in Nuh, observing that "the offences are being committed by hardcore smugglers, fully trained and that too in a well planned manner on large scale in an organized way."

A court-appointed amicus curiae in the case observed that Nuh "is a paradise for beef traders".

Note, 1 August: The Haryana police said last night that all those trapped inside the temple have been safely rescued.