Bhiwani to Manesar: How one Monu Rana got drawn to another

GURGAON: Monu Rana (27), who runs a small confectionary shop in Bhiwani, became an active gau rakshak two years ago, after joining the network of vigilantes led by Bajrang Dal functionary Monu Manesar. Gogi (35) worked as an ambulance driver for a Gau Sewa Kendra in Bhiwani and ferried cows that were ill or injured. The two were arrested by
Rajasthan Police from a farmhouse in Dehradun on Friday for their role in the murder of Bharatpur residents Nasir and Junaid.
According to police sources, Monu Rana is the only child of his parents. His father, who worked with the state irrigation department, passed away a few years ago. Gogi has two brothers who also work as drivers.
Sources in Bhiwani said the two men were motivated to join Monu Manesar, who they followed online, after watching his videos. “They were active members of the Haryana Gau Raksha Dal. Around two years ago, they got in touch with Monu Manesar, who was leading Bajrang Dal’s south Haryana wing. They decided to join his team. There are very few cases of cow smuggling in districts like Bhiwani, Hisar, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Rohtak, Jind and nearby areas, so they decided to work closely with Monu Manesar,” a close associate of Monu Rana said.
The Bhiwani unit of Gau Raksha Dal said it came to know about the arrests through news channels. Sanjay Parmar, a member, said, “I am not sure they were involved in the case. ”
Devendra Kumar, a senior functionary of Vishva Hindu Parishad’s Manesar wing, said Monu Rana and Gogi had never attended any of their cow protection programmes. “The Gau Raksha Dal closely works with us and Bajrang Dal, but we don't have information about them,” he said.