Bull guardian Bittu Bajrangi was detained by police on Wednesday in connection with recent Nuh community clashes. The development took place even as the Vishva Hindu Parishad and its youth wing – Bajrang Dal – separated from him. According to police, Bajrangi is the president of an organization called Goraksha Bajrang Force.
The 45-year-old man, also known as Raj Kumar, is a fruit and vegetable trader at Gazipur and Dabua maket markets in Faridabad. He is said to have run his cow protection group for the past three years. Earlier reports citing sources also flagged Bajrangi as a member of Bajrang Dal.
Violence broke out in the Nuh of Haryana in late July, killing six people and injuring several others. A senior police officer told PTI that Bajrangi and his associates used illegal weapons during the VHP procession that was attacked in Nuh, which has a Muslim majority, on July 31.
While Bittu Bajrangi was arrested by Faridabad police two days after the violence (in connection with another case), he was released on bail after participating in the investigation. He was accused of making inflammatory speeches and brandishing a weapon in public. In the past month alone, he has been charged with three cases of incitement to religious sentiments.
“I was on a mission with my team 300 meters from Nalhar temple. We saw a crowd of about 20 people carrying swords and trishul march to Nalhar temple. To maintain law and order, my team robbed and confiscated their weapons. Then they started shouting slogans against the police and harshly dealt with the team,” said Assistant Superintendent of Police Usha Kundu.
The ASP said the group squatted in front of a police car where their weapons were stored. Soon after, they opened the tailgate of the vehicle and fled with weapons.
“Bittu and others who mistreated us and threatened to kill us were identified in the footage,” ASP Kundu said in her complaint.
Bajrangi is that he was interrogated and then arrested from Faridabad following a new FIR based on Kundu’s complaint. FIR cited several sections of the Indian Penal Code including 148 (riot), 149 (illegal assembly), 332 (injury), 353, 186 (obstruction of public official in the performance of official duties). ), 395, 397 (armed robbery) and 506 (criminal threat) as well as provisions of the Firearms Act.
Meanwhile, VHP sought to resolve complaints about the cow guard’s connection to Bajrang Dal, stressing that VHP as a whole had nothing to do with the defendant.
“Raj Kumar alias Bittu Bajrangi, who is believed to be a worker of Bajrang Dal, has never had any relationship with Bajrang Dal. Vishva Hindu Parish (VHP) also does not consider the content of the alleged video. released by him is appropriate,” the right wing outfit said in a statement.
(With input from agencies)
Catch all the Latest Business News, Market News, Event News and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download the Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
MoreLess
Update: August 16, 2023, 04:44 pm IST
Leave a Reply