The father of the youth killed by the bullet allegedly fired by the cow protectors has expressed doubts over the whole matter and has questioned why no other youth in the vehicle was injured in the attack (by the cow protectors) when his son was not alone in the car. 19-year-old Aryan Mishra was shot dead on the highway on the night of August 23. Five people who allegedly followed him and opened fire – Saurabh, Anil Kaushik, Varun, Krishna and Adesh – were arrested on August 28.
Although Aryan’s father Siyanand Mishra did not make any direct allegations, he said that his landlord’s family can say something more on this matter, because they were in the car with his son that night. He told reporters, ‘I am satisfied with the arrest of the five people but there is nothing left for me in Faridabad now. I want to return to my ancestral home. I have many questions which can only be answered by my landlord’s family. My son was taken to Palwal by Sujata Gulati and her sons Harshit and Shanky Gulati in a car.’
Mishra said, ‘Shanky was involved in a case of attempted murder and he might have had some dispute with someone.’ The victim’s father also asked if his son was really shot by the cow protectors, who gave them the right to do so. He said, ‘Anil Kaushik told the police that my son was killed because they mistook him for a cow smuggler, and if he is right, then who gave the cow protectors the right to shoot anyone? My son will not come back, but this case should be investigated seriously.’
Meanwhile, Aryan’s brother has started a WhatsApp group ‘Nyay’ for justice in the case. More than 1,000 people have joined this group created on Tuesday night. According to police sources, during interrogation, the accused claimed that on the night of August 23, they had received information that some suspected animal smugglers in two SUV cars were doing recce in the city. Police sources said that they mistook Aryan and his friends Shanky and Harshit as animal smugglers and chased their car for about 30 kilometers near Gadpuri toll on Delhi-Agra National Highway.
When they asked the boy and his friends to stop their car, the driver started driving at a high speed, following which they opened fire and Aryan Mishra died on the spot, sources said. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aman Yadav said police arrested five people on August 28 and sent them to two-day police custody. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Hemendra Kumar Meena said in a statement on Tuesday, “Many aspects of this case are still unresolved. The facts that have emerged during the interrogation of the accused are being verified. The case is being investigated thoroughly and it is too early to say anything right now.”