Cow vigilante Bittu Bajrangi was placed into police custody on Wednesday in connection with the recent communal clashes in Nuh. This development unfolded even as the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its youth wing, Bajrang Dal, distanced themselves from him. As per the police, Bajrangi holds the position of president in an organization known as the Goraksha Bajrang Force.
A 45-year-old individual, also recognized as Raj Kumar, he is engaged in trading fruits and vegetables at the Gazipur and Dabua markets in Faridabad. For the past three years, he has reportedly been leading a cow vigilante group. Prior sources had also identified Bajrangi as a member of the Bajrang Dal.
The eruption of violence in Haryana\’s Nuh at the end of July resulted in the loss of six lives and numerous injuries. A senior police officer informed PTI that Bajrangi and his associates were in possession of illegal weapons during a VHP procession that was attacked in the predominantly Muslim area of Nuh on July 31.
Although Bittu Bajrangi was apprehended by the Faridabad police two days after the violence, pertaining to another case, he was released on bail after cooperating with the investigation. He faced allegations of delivering inflammatory speeches and displaying weapons publicly. In the past month alone, he has been charged in three cases of inciting religious sentiments.
A complaint lodged by Assistant Superintendent of Police Usha Kundu detailed the incident: \”I was on duty with my team 300 meters away from the Nalhar temple. We observed a group of around 20 individuals carrying swords and tridents proceeding towards Nalhar temple. In order to maintain law and order, my team confiscated their weapons. In response, they began chanting slogans against the police and physically assaulted the team.\”
The ASP recounted that the group gathered near police vehicles where their confiscated weapons were stored. Subsequently, they unlocked the rear gates of the vehicle and made off with the weapons.
\”Bittu and the others who had shown disrespect towards us and made threats of harm were identified from the footage,\” ASP Kundu stated in her complaint.
Bajrangi was interrogated and subsequently detained in Faridabad based on a fresh FIR prompted by Kundu\’s complaint. The FIR cited various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 148 (riots), 149 (unlawful assembly), 332 (causing hurt), 353, 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing duties), 395, 397 (armed robbery), 506 (criminal intimidation), and sections of the Arms Act.
Meanwhile, the VHP clarified misconceptions regarding the cow vigilante\’s affiliation with the Bajrang Dal, asserting that the VHP as a whole has no ties to the accused.
\”Raj Kumar alias Bittu Bajrangi, purportedly associated with Bajrang Dal, has never had any connection with Bajrang Dal. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) does not consider the content of the video allegedly released by him as appropriate,\” the right-wing organization stated in a release.