GHATMEEKA (BHARATPUR): On the evening of February 15, Nasir (25) and his cousin Junaid (39) left their house in Ghatmeeka village of Bharatpur to go to Sikri to meet some family members. Somewhere on the way, on the outskirts of Peeruka village near the state border, they were chased by the cow vigilantes and a vehicle with a blue beacon.
This vehicle rammed the Bolero Nasir was driving, bringing them to a halt. The group of cow vigilantes forced the two out and thrashed them. The cousins kept shouting, “Koi bacha lo,” but that made little difference.
Nasir and Junaid were dragged off to Firozpur Jhirka in Nuh, where they were taken to the police station. But finding them badly injured, the cops refused to take them in.
This, according to Nasir and Junaid’s families, is the version of events between the time the cousins left home and the discovery of their charred bodies in Bhiwani on February 16 inside the Bolero. The families have put this together from versions of what they claim to be villagers and cops in Haryana during the hours they spent searching for the cousins who, they alleged, were murdered on the suspicion of smuggling cows.
“Both would have been alive if policemen at Firozpur Jhirka police station had arrested them and sent them for medical treatment,” said Zabir, a cousin who lives in Ghatmeeka.
Nuh police had on Sunday ordered a probe into allegations against the cops. On Tuesday, Nuh SP Varun Singla reiterated that the inquiry led by ASP Usha Kundu was under way. “Right now, we cannot discuss the investigation line. But if anyone is found guilty, police will act accordingly,” he said.
So far, an FIR for abduction has been registered by Bharatpur police against five cow vigilantes, including Monu Manesar, the leader of the gau rakshak network active Gurgaaon-Nuh-Alwar area. His associate Rinku Saini, a cab driver from Nuh, is the only accused arrested in the case till now.
Zabir said some villagers saw the cousins being taken away in a vehicle from Peeruka village. “We got worried when Nasir and Junaid did not return home. As we launched a search, some villagers received a call from a person who identified himself as Teenu of Ghata village in Gurgaon. He got to know from someone that my brothers were taken to the Firozpur Jhirka police station,” Zabir alleged.
Two other cousins, Hamid and Zia-ul-Haq, then left for Firozpur Jhirka to find out what had happened. “A tea vendor near Firozpur Jhirka police station told Hamid and Zia that he saw someone bring a damaged SUV to the station. Then, a cop secretly told us gau rakshaks had brought Nasir and Junaid there,” Zabir said. “After this, they were taken to Bhiwani. One of them was tied up in the front seat, and the other at the back before the Bolero was set on fire,” Zabir claimed.
‘Will protest till justice is delivered’ On Tuesday, Nasir and Junaid’s family sat on a dharna near their house, demanding the arrest of those involved.
Zabir said the family also wants the case to be sent to a fast-track court. “We will continue sitting on the dharna till we get justice,” he said.
“How will the family survive? Junaid ran a grocery store in the village and Nasir was a driver. Government must ensure proper compensation, education and a house,” said Mamori, a family member, at the protest site.
This vehicle rammed the Bolero Nasir was driving, bringing them to a halt. The group of cow vigilantes forced the two out and thrashed them. The cousins kept shouting, “Koi bacha lo,” but that made little difference.
Nasir and Junaid were dragged off to Firozpur Jhirka in Nuh, where they were taken to the police station. But finding them badly injured, the cops refused to take them in.
This, according to Nasir and Junaid’s families, is the version of events between the time the cousins left home and the discovery of their charred bodies in Bhiwani on February 16 inside the Bolero. The families have put this together from versions of what they claim to be villagers and cops in Haryana during the hours they spent searching for the cousins who, they alleged, were murdered on the suspicion of smuggling cows.
“Both would have been alive if policemen at Firozpur Jhirka police station had arrested them and sent them for medical treatment,” said Zabir, a cousin who lives in Ghatmeeka.
Nuh police had on Sunday ordered a probe into allegations against the cops. On Tuesday, Nuh SP Varun Singla reiterated that the inquiry led by ASP Usha Kundu was under way. “Right now, we cannot discuss the investigation line. But if anyone is found guilty, police will act accordingly,” he said.
So far, an FIR for abduction has been registered by Bharatpur police against five cow vigilantes, including Monu Manesar, the leader of the gau rakshak network active Gurgaaon-Nuh-Alwar area. His associate Rinku Saini, a cab driver from Nuh, is the only accused arrested in the case till now.
Zabir said some villagers saw the cousins being taken away in a vehicle from Peeruka village. “We got worried when Nasir and Junaid did not return home. As we launched a search, some villagers received a call from a person who identified himself as Teenu of Ghata village in Gurgaon. He got to know from someone that my brothers were taken to the Firozpur Jhirka police station,” Zabir alleged.
Two other cousins, Hamid and Zia-ul-Haq, then left for Firozpur Jhirka to find out what had happened. “A tea vendor near Firozpur Jhirka police station told Hamid and Zia that he saw someone bring a damaged SUV to the station. Then, a cop secretly told us gau rakshaks had brought Nasir and Junaid there,” Zabir said. “After this, they were taken to Bhiwani. One of them was tied up in the front seat, and the other at the back before the Bolero was set on fire,” Zabir claimed.
‘Will protest till justice is delivered’ On Tuesday, Nasir and Junaid’s family sat on a dharna near their house, demanding the arrest of those involved.
Zabir said the family also wants the case to be sent to a fast-track court. “We will continue sitting on the dharna till we get justice,” he said.
“How will the family survive? Junaid ran a grocery store in the village and Nasir was a driver. Government must ensure proper compensation, education and a house,” said Mamori, a family member, at the protest site.
