Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: A tragic case of mistaken identity led to the death of a Class 12 student in Haryana’s Faridabad on August 23. Aryan Mishra was allegedly pursued and fatally shot by members of a cow vigilante group who mistook him and his friends for cattle smugglers.
Five individuals, identified as Anil Kaushik, Varun, Krishna, Adesh, and Saurabh, have been arrested in connection with the incident. According to police reports, the vigilantes chased Aryan and his friends, Shanky and Harshit, for nearly 30 kilometers along the Delhi-Agra National Highway near Haryana’s Gadhpuri.
Sources reveal that the vigilante group had received information about suspected cattle smugglers driving Renault Duster and Toyota Fortuner cars. Acting on this tip, they spotted a Duster car at Patel Chowk and tried to stop it, assuming it contained the alleged smugglers.
However, Harshit, who was driving, did not stop the car. Aryan and his friends feared they were being targeted due to Shanky’s existing rivalries, believing the pursuers to be hired attackers. As a result, they attempted to evade the vigilantes, leading to a high-speed chase.
During the pursuit, the vigilantes opened fire on the car, striking Aryan near the neck. When the car finally came to a halt, the attackers shot Aryan again, suspecting the group might retaliate. Upon seeing two women in the car, the attackers realized their mistake and fled the scene.
Aryan was immediately taken to a hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Police sources have confirmed that the weapon used in the shooting was illegal. The accused are currently in police custody, and a detailed investigation is underway to uncover the full circumstances of the incident.
