Lecture Notes on Aryan Mishra Incident and Cow Protection Vigilantism

Introduction

• Warning against night outings in Delhi NCR.
• Recent incident involving 19-year-old Aryan Mishra.

Incident Overview

• Date: 23rd August
• Aryan and friends went for a drive in a Renault Duster.
• Misidentified by cow protectors (gau rakshak) as cattle smugglers, leading to a 30 km chase.
• Chase from Faridabad's Sector 21 to Palwal's Baghola.
• Aryan shot in the back of the head and then in the arm after the car stopped.

Investigation

• Police arrested five individuals involved: Varun, Saurabh, Krishna, Adesh, and leader Anil Kaushik.
• Anil Kaushik: 40-year-old owner of a startup advocating cow protection, known as a cow protector.
• Prior interaction with the President of Cow Protection Bajrang Force.

Family's Reaction

• Aryan's family disputes the cow protectors' claims, questioning the rationale behind such a chase.
• Anil Kaushik expressed remorse, stating he thought Aryan was Muslim due to tinted windows.
• Aryan's father questioned Kaushik's intentions and lack of accountability for his actions.
• Aryan's mother demands life imprisonment for the killers.

Societal Implications

• Discussion on societal perceptions of life based on religion and caste.
• Highlighting how public outrage is often influenced by religious identity.
• Critique of the current state of law enforcement and its effectiveness in dealing with such cases.

Government and Political Involvement

• Concern over the increasing power of cow protectors and their actions supported by politicians.
• Reference to the Hindu migrant laborer killed on suspicion of beef consumption days before Aryan's death.
• Critique of Haryana's Chief Minister's comments supporting cow protectors.

Modi's Statements

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments distinguishing cow protectors from anti-social elements.
• Highlighting the real threats to cow welfare, such as plastic consumption by cows.

Emergence of Vigilante Groups

• Mention of infamous figures in cow protection like Monu Manesar and Bittu Bajrangi.
• The rise of social media personas among cow protectors and their glorification despite criminal records.

Historical Context

• Comparison to the rise of paramilitary organizations like the Storm Troopers in Nazi Germany.
• Discussion on how vigilante cow protectors have gained unofficial power and legitimacy.

Call for Legal Action

• Urging the Supreme Court to address the vigilante cow protection issue.
• Examples of past Supreme Court decisions against extrajudicial forces.
• Emphasis on the state's responsibility to maintain law and order.

Conclusion

• Warning against the normalization of violence justified by faith and the potential for further loss of life.
• Urging collective outrage and recognition of the cyclical nature of violence based on identity and belief.
• The importance of societal change to prevent vigilante justice and uphold humanity.