'Murder retribution for Pahalgam terror attack': Self-proclaimed gau rakshak kills biryani seller in Agra

AGRA: Hours after 27-year-old restaurant worker Gulfam Ali was shot dead and his co-worker injured, a self-proclaimed 'gau rakshak' (cow vigilante) who identified himself as Manoj Chaudhary and said he was member of 'Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal', took to social media on Friday to announce that the murder was "retribution" for the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were killed. He said "there were more deaths to be avenged".

A widely circulated video on social media purportedly shows a man, with two pistols tucked into his jeans and knives strapped on, claiming responsibility for the killing. In the video, Chaudhary, accompanied by another man, is heard saying: "Two k#### (slur) were killed in Taj city Agra. Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal takes responsibility for this."

I pledge in the name of Bharat Mata that if we do not avenge the killing of 26 with 2600, I am not a son of Bharat Mata." He then raises a religious slogan, with the other man chiming in.

The identity of Chaudhary's associate is not known.

Police, however, rejected the claims and said, "No organisation in the name of 'Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal' is operational (here). The video on social media appears to be a publicity stunt. An FIR has been filed at Tajganj police station, and a probe is on."

Agra police commissioner Deepak Kumar told TOI: "The crime was a fallout of a quarrel over the quality of food a few days ago. Probe has revealed the two men are not Kshatriyas, and their self-declared status as gau rakshaks is also doubtful."

He added, "The motive can only be confirmed after the accused are arrested. It appears to be more of a publicity stunt. CCTV footage from the crime scene shows the presence of four individuals. We have arrested a suspect."

Gulfam worked as a waiter at Shahid Ali Chicken Biryani, owned by his cousin Shahid Ali, in Tajganj area of the city. Around midnight, he was closing for the day when three men came on a scooter and shot him dead. Co-worker Saif Ali, 25, dived down and suffered minor injuries after a pellet grazed his neck.

Saif told TOI: "Two men walked up to Gulfam after parking their scooter some distance away. They said hello to him, to which he responded, and one of them pulled out a pistol and shot him in his chest. Another assailant was standing near the scooter, and the three sped away soon after." Gulfam was rushed to SN Medical College, where he was declared dead.

An FIR was lodged under BNS sections 103 (1) (murder) and 109 (attempt to murder). Police teams are currently analysing CCTV footage and guarding border checkpoints to nab the suspects.

Gulfam was laid to rest after a postmortem on Thursday. His family is now looking to the govt for justice.