Conflicts Between Communities: Cow Protector Bittu Bajrangi Receives Bail
In accordance with a 14-day judicial detention order, Bittu Bajrangi, the president of the Goraksha Bajrang Force, was brought in court on August 17 and lodged in the Neemika prison in the Faridabad district. According to the Nuh Police, Sandeep Kumar, a first-class court of judicial magistrate, heard Bajrangi’s bail request on August 30 and ultimately approved it. By ruling dated August 25,2023, Bajrangis’ initial bail application was rejected as withdrawn. The accused once again requested standard bail in accordance with Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Bajrangi’s attorney claimed that his client had been wrongfully accused in the current case and that he was not present in District Nuh at the alleged time of the incident. Instead, he was in District Faridabad, where he had been arrested for a social media post in FIR No. 413 of 2023 under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and released on bail. The legal representative said that the disputed guns were only “religious symbols.” The attorney for the applicant-accused said that the purported FIR pertaining to an event on July 31 was twisted since it was filed on August 15 after 15 days had passed.
“The trial must conclude within a reasonable time. Further delaying the applicant’s custody would be useless in these circumstances. The court made an observation before granting bail. The applicant-accused was given the following instruction by the court: “The applicant-accused is hereby directed to stay away from giving public statements particularly on social media and he shall also not visit District Nuh without prior permission of Superintendent of Police, Nuh.” Additionally, it has been ordered that the applicant-accused “furnish personal bonds in the sum of Rs.50,000/- with one local surety in the like amount, to the satisfaction of Learned Illaqa/Duty Magistrate.”
Following the filing of a FIR at Nuh’s Sadar Police Station on the allegation of Assistant Superintendent of Police Usha Kundu, Bajrangj alias Raj Kumar was taken into custody on August 15. According to the FIR, Bajrangi and a few of his unnamed followers were identified via social media postings. They were also accused of acting inappropriately with and threatening an ASP Kundu-led police squad. Police officers had made an effort to prevent the gang from bringing swords and “trishuls” to the Nalhar shrine. When asked to halt, the crowd began yelling profanities at the police, assaulted them, and even took their guns back from police trucks, according to ASP Kundu.
The Crime Investigation Agency team of Tauru first held the Bajrang Dal member for interrogation, according to the Police. On August 1, the day after the communal violence in Nuh, Bajrangi was detained by the Faridabad Police for reportedly making provocative statements and displaying firearms while wearing saffron clothing. However, the Vishva Hindu Parishad had made a declaration that barred Bajrangi from having any connections to the Bajrang Dal or other VHP-affiliated groups.
Six people died as a result of the racial conflicts in Nuh, while mosques and stores were set on fire. In relation to the incident, 116 persons were detained and 90 were arrested. Since then, 305 individuals have been detained and 60 FIRs have been filed.
