Agra Police on Monday arrested three individuals including a Hindutva group member in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old Muslim youth in the Tajganj area of Agra.
A 25-year-old Biriyani seller in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra, Mohammad Ghulfam, the owner of a biryani restaurant, was shot dead on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the Pahalgam militant attack.
The incident gained more attention after two men, claiming to be self-styled gau rakshaks (cow vigilantes), posted a video on Instagram taking responsibility for shooting two Muslim men in Agra, stating that the shooting was in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack.
Two of the accused, Priyansh Yadav (21) and Shivam Bhagel (20), have been arrested for allegedly shooting Gulfam Ali and his co-worker, Saif Ali.
Police said Manoj Chaudhary (25), who is already facing a murder charge and runs a “Cow Raksha Dal,” was arrested for posting on his social media account a video of the shooters, who claimed the killing was an act of retribution for the Pahalgam attack, with the intent to incite communal tension.
They added that all three accused have previous criminal records.
Priyansh and Shivam were arrested following an exchange of fire with the SIT team.
One SIT constable, Girendra Singh from Tajganj Police Station, was injured in the firing and is currently under treatment.
At a press conference, Agra Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar announced that three individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder, while one suspect, Pushpendra Baghel, is yet to be apprehended.
Kumar stated that the murder stemmed from a personal grudge.
According to the police, the arrested accused revealed that a prior dispute had occurred over food payments at the Shahid Ali Chicken Biryani restaurant between the victim, Gulfam, and the accused. As a result, the three accused — Priyansh Yadav, Shivam Bhagel, and Pushpendra Baghel — shot Gulfam with the intent to kill him and also attacked Saif Ali.
“Through this video, he deliberately mentioned the ‘Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal’ in the context of a previous protest by the Kshatriya Karni Sena in Agra, and also linked the incident to the militant attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claiming it was ‘revenge for the 26th,’” the police statement reads.
“They made a video to capitalise on the Pahalgam killings and the Maharana Sanga controversy,” Kumar said.
“We are vigilantly monitoring everything these people are doing in the name of religion, especially as they attempt to create division. We will take action against all of them,” he added.
