Meerut Murder Victim Asif Was Killed For 'Gau Raksha' Work, Claims Family

The family of a 36-year-old man who was murdered in a market in Meerut city claimed that he was targeted because of his involvement in 'gau raksha' (cow protection) work.

However, the police have said that prima facie the incident may be a result of a family rivalry.

In their police complaint, the family of the victim, Asif, has named seven persons.

According to the victim's cousin Muttalib, Asif was actively involved in cow vigilante activities and supported the BJP.

The family strongly opposes cow slaughter, which Muttalib believes is the the motive behind the attack.

“Asif was involved in cow vigilante activities and supported the BJP. Our whole family is against cow slaughter. That is what those people (the accused) did not like and attacked him,” Muttalib was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

Muttalib further said that Asif was very happy because his younger brother Imran had got bail in a murder case from the Allahabad High Court on Thursday (6 July).

"Asif was consulting lawyers for his brother’s immediate release. He was killed before he could meet his brother," he added.

On Saturday (8 July) evening, Asif was riding his scooter to the market when the assailants suddenly opened fire on him and fled the spot. His family has accused their neighbours of being responsible for the murder.

A resident of Neecha Saddiq-nagar in Meerut, Asif is survived by his wife and two children. He was released on bail a month ago in a murder case from December 2022, in which Imran is also an accused.

“Asif had many times provided information to the police on cow slaughter. Police had raided their (accused) godowns recently too. Now the whole family (of the accused) is absconding,” Salim, uncle of Asif, was quoted as saying by IE.

Asif’s elder brother Dilshad was also murdered in a similar manner in 2015.

According to Meerut's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rohit Singh Sajwan, Asif was facing charges in three cases.

"There is a history of family rivalry between both the families and prima facie, it seems, Asif was attacked because of personal enmity. He was not a cow vigilante,” Sajwan was quoted as saying by IE.

"We have formed two teams to investigate the matter, and the accused will be arrested as soon as possible," he added.

BJP's Meerut City chief Mukesh Singhal denied Asif's association with the party.

“He was neither a BJP leader nor was he given any position or task by the party. He could be doing cow vigilante activities on his own,” said Singhal.