New Delhi: Lokesh Singla, a self‑described cow protection vigilante implicated in the lynching of Muslim men Nasir (25) and Junaid (35) in February 2023, tragically died by suicide on June 5 near Palwal when he reportedly jumped in front of a train on the Agra–Delhi route, reported the Madhyamam.
In a shocking twist, a video he sent to his wife before his death accused senior Bajrang Dal leaders of persistent threats, stalking, blackmail, and psychological harassment. He named Bharat Bhushan (state convener, Hathin), Anil Kaushik, and Harkesh Yadav as being behind the sustained campaign that drove him to desperation .
Acting on the complaint filed by his wife, Damyanti, the Government Railway Police in Faridabad have registered an FIR under sections related to abetment of suicide and criminal conspiracy, listing the three individuals as accused .
Singla was among 13 people charged in the brutal abduction, lynching, and burning of Nasir and Junaid—both Muslim—by a vigilante mob led by Bajrang Dal activist Monu Manesar in Bhiwani, an incident that provoked nationwide outrage . Their charred bodies were discovered inside their vehicle near the Rajasthan–Haryana border on February 16, 2023 .
The aftermath of Singla’s death brings a new dimension to this already complex tragedy. It suggests potential internal conflict or power dynamics within the vigilante structure, especially since his video alleges intimidation by individuals from the same ideological sphere .
Civil rights advocates stress that this case highlights a larger, systemic issue: Muslim citizens are disproportionately targeted under the guise of cow protection. More than two dozen Muslims lost their lives in such violence between 2010 and 2017 alone .
Following Singla’s death, calls have intensified for a thorough, impartial investigation—both into the lynching of Nasir and Junaid and into the alleged harassment of Singla—to ensure justice for victims and survivors, including the Muslim community, who bear the brunt of such violence.
