Immolation of two youths in Bhiwani by Bajrang Dal is snowballing into a major controversy

The two Muslim youths who were charred to death allegedly by a radical Hindu organisation is slowly turning into a major political controversy. Though Bajrang Dal Monu Manesar has denied any involvement but police file a case against him and four others. Chief Minister Ashok Ghelot has also criticised the offenders and announced a compensation for the deceased

Bharatpur: With Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot criticizing strongly and the state government announced compensation for the deceased, the immolation of the two Muslim youths allegedly by members of the radical Hindu organization – Bajrang Dal is now snowballing into a major controversy. Though Bajrang Dal denied any kind of involvement in the whole incident but police have already registered a case of murder and kidnapping against five Bajrang Dal supporters.

“The killing of two people, residents of Bharatpur's Ghatmika, in Haryana is condemnable. Rajasthan and Haryana Police are taking action in coordination. One accused has been taken into custody and the search is on for the remaining accused. Rajasthan Police has been directed to take strict action,” Ashok Gehlot said.

The incident came to the fore when police detected a charred SUV with two skeletons in Barwas village under the Loharu area of Bhiwani district in Haryana on Thursday early morning. Initial investigation revealed the two youths - Junaid and Nasir – both residents of Piruka village in Rajasthan were abducted by some unidentified miscreants on Wednesday evening. Ismail- a relative of the abducted people had lodged a complaint at the Gopalgarh police station.

There were widespread allegations that cow vigilantes and right-wing Hindu outfit Bajrang Dal were behind the kidnapping and the murder of the two Muslim youths but police denied to substantiate the allegations. “An FIR has been registered in Gopalgarh PS against Lokesh, Rinku Saini, Srikant, and Monu Manesar under sections 143, 365, 367, and 368 of the Indian Penal Code”. Though no one was arrested so far half a dozen people had been detained and were being interrogated in connection with the crime,” a senior police officer said.

“Those named in the FIR are associated with the Bajrang Dal but whether they were involved in the crime or not is yet to be ascertained," Inspector General of Police, Bharatpur range, Gaurav Srivastava told Etv Bharat. “While Nasir has no criminal records, Junaid has had five cases registered against him in the past for cattle smuggling," he added.

Meanwhile, Monu Manesar – the prime accused and the coordinator of Bajrang Dal's mandal posted a video clip from an undisclosed location refuting all the charges against him. In the video clip Manesar said, “The allegation that has been leveled against us are completely baseless. The situation is extremely unfortunate, but no Bajrang Dal team was present at the spot. We came to know about it from social media. We are law-abiding citizens and we also demand the harshest punishment for the offenders. I request everyone to assist the police in their investigation, which I, too, will follow".

Meanwhile, Rajasthan minister Zahida Khan who was responsible for her initiative to bring the entire incident to the notice of the police told the families that the families of the duo will be given a compensation of 15 lakhs each and the families will have benefit of the food security scheme of the government. Khan also assured another 5 lakhs each to the families from her account. Pahari Pradhan Sajid Khan said that there will be efforts to give government job to one of the kin of the deceased.