Abhishek Chauhan, a 22-year-old boy, came from Panipat’s Noorwala village to Nuh on Monday to take part in a procession led by the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Hours later, he, along with four others, were killed in the violence that erupted in the district and neighbouring Gurgaon.
“Just as we came out of the Shiv Mandir in Nalhar, we saw a mob, armed with swords, guns and stones, running towards the temple. They started beating people, firing and setting cars on fire. A bullet hit my brother and he fell. I cried for help, but there was no one around there,” said Mahesh, his 25 year old cousin who accompanied him.
“I was trying to get Abhishek somewhere safe, but a man with a sword slashed his neck and fled… I had to leave him there and take shelter in a tent. After an hour, policemen came and took him to a hospital but he was declared dead,” Mahesh added.
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In his complaint, he has named a total of 13 person. A case has been registered under IPC sections 302, 148, 149, 307 and 324 and Section 25 of the Arms Act at Sadar Nuh police station.
Rajendra Chauhan, Abhishek’s uncle, came to Nuh Tuesday morning to take his body from the mortuary of Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College. He said Abhishek was his family’s sole breadwinner: “I don’t know what to tell my sister… He had studied till Class XII but had to start working as a car mechanic because of the family’s poor economic condition…”
Meanwhile, Dinesh Kumar (24) from Bhiwani is battling gunshot injuries at a hospital. Recounting the incident, he told The Indian Express, “I was among 80 people who came to Nuh by bus… but we had to stop at the chowk near the temple after we got news of the attack. We tried to talk to the other side… four men assured us nothing would happen. But in a few minutes, people started throwing stones and I got shot,” said Kumar, who works at a petrol pump.
On Tuesday, the streets saw heavy deployment of security forces while shops remained shut. Narender Deshwal, who sells ice cream on a cart, said the blockade will affect business. “But if there is one thing that has been severely affected, more than business, it is the relationship between both communities. Who will pay for this damage?” said the 50-year-old.
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