Accused in twin murders, vigilante Monu Manesar finally in police net

| Updated: 13 September, 2023 12:07 pm IST

NEW DELHI: Cow vigilante Monu Manesar, whose original name is Mohit Yadav, was finally arrested by Haryana’s Nuh Police on Tuesday after being on the run for over two months. He was arrested from his village’s market in Manesar.

Manesar was wanted in connection with the murder of two Muslim men, Junaid and Nassir in Rajasthan in February. The two men were allegedly killed by a mob of cow vigilantes who suspected them of being cow smugglers.

He was also wanted for allegedly posting a social media message before the second round of a Hindu procession in Nuh on August 28. The first round of procession had been disrupted by a group of people, leading to communal clashes in which six people were killed and dozens injured.

The Haryana Police had registered 44 FIRs and arrested 100 persons in connection with clashes of July 31.

Two days before the second round of procession, Manesar allegedly wrote on his Facebook account: “Parinam ki chinta hum nahi karte, vaar ek hi hoga, par akhir hoga (We don’t care about the final outcome. Only one blow will be struck, but that would be the final one).”

The Nuh Police had registered an FIR against Manesar under sections 153, 153A, 295A, 298, 504, 109 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 25 of the Arms Act.

After the communal clashes, Manesar gave interviews to various media houses but was not arrested. He was reportedly hiding in an undisclosed location.

On Tuesday, a team of Nuh Police arrested Manesar from his village’s market. He was later produced in court and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

The Rajasthan Police also took Manesar’s custody in transit remand in the murder case of Junaid and Nassir.

Manesar’s arrest is a major breakthrough in the case. He is the first accused to be arrested in the case. The police are now hopeful of nabbing the other accused as well.