Cow Vigilantes Kill Class 12 Student in Haryana: How The Incident Unfolded

A Class 12 student was killed in Haryana's Faridabad on August 23 by a group of five individuals who allegedly mistook him for a cattle smuggler. The five accused, identified as Saurabh, Anil Kaushik, Varun, Krishna, and Adesh, told police they had received information that night about suspected cattle smuggling activities in Faridabad involving two SUVs.

Mistaking the victim, Aryan Mishra, and his friends, Shanky and Harshit, for the smugglers, the group pursued their car for approximately 30 kilometers near the Gadhpuri toll on the Delhi-Agra National Highway. According to the suspects, when they ordered the car to stop and the driver sped away, they opened fire, resulting in Aryan Mishra's death at the scene.

The police statement did not explicitly identify the suspects as cow vigilantes or provide a clear motive for the crime. However, NDTV reported that the mother of the main accused, Anil Kaushik, acknowledged her son's involvement in the chase.

"Yes, my son was chasing that car that night. He told me he thought there was a cow smuggler in the car. He also said that the first bullet was fired from the Duster. But he did not fire any bullets, I don't know whose bullet hit him (Aryan Mishra). My son is innocent. He protects cows and serves society," she told the channel.

NDTV also reported that two vehicles were found at Anil Kaushik's home: a Mahindra Bolero with the inscription "Gau Raksha Dal" and a cow ambulance bearing Kaushik's name and the phrase "Live for Nation."

The five accused were arrested on August 28 and initially placed in police custody for two days before being sent to judicial custody. Police are also investigating the possibility of the incident being linked to a prior enmity.

The victim's father has alleged that one of Aryan's acquaintances who was present during the incident may have conspired in his son's killing. The weapon used in the crime will be sent for forensic examination as authorities work to verify the statements provided by the accused.