Who are Monu Manesar and Mamman Khan and what is their link to the Haryana violence?

Violence erupted in Haryana's Nuh district on Monday, July 31, and quickly spread to other parts of the state, resulting in the deaths of at least 6 people, including a mosque cleric, two home guards, and three civilians.

The situation escalated dramatically on August 1 when a group of 70-80 people set fire to Anjuman Jama Masjid in Gurugram's sector 57, resulting in the death of the head cleric, Mohammad Saad. Another imam from the mosque remains in critical condition in the I.C.U.

While the exact cause of the violence that originated in Nuh district remains unknown, two names, Monu Manesar and Mamman Khan, have come into focus as central figures in the turmoil.

Who is Monu Manesar?

Originally known as Mohit Yadav, Monu Manesar is a self-proclaimed cow vigilante affiliated with the Bajrang Dal outfit.

His name has gained prominence after the recent violence in Haryana due to his alleged involvement in a video released just a day before the Vishwa Hindu Procession (VHP) rally.

In the video, Monu Manesar is purported to be part of the 'Shobha Yatra' and is seen inviting others to join him in the rally. This act was seen as a taunt to the Nuh residents, as Monu Manesar was allegedly responsible for the killing of two Muslim boys, Nasir and Junaid, on February 15, 2023.

Nasir and Junaid hailed from Ghatmeeka village in Bharatpur district, Rajasthan. They were reportedly kidnapped by Monu Manesar's associates and their charred bodies were found the next day in Loharu district, Haryana's Bhiwani.

The Haryana police had included Monu Manesar's name in the chargesheet, although he denied all allegations against him.

Why is Mamman Khan's name linked to the Haryana violence?

Haryana MLA Mamman Khan's name has also emerged in connection with the violence in Nuh. He represents the Congress party in the Ferozepur Jhirka assembly constituency.

In an interview with Aaj Tak, Monu Manesar accused Mamman Khan of supporting the rioters during the recent violence. He claimed that Mamman Khan, along with other Muslim MLAs, encouraged the rioters.

In February, Mamman Khan had spoken against Monu Manesar in the Haryana assembly, presenting photographic evidence of acts of violence attributed to Manesar. Khan had challenged Manesar to visit Mewat again, promising that they would teach him a lesson.

"Kya darana chahta hai hame ye (Does he want to scare us)," Mamman Khan had retorted.

Khan had further alleged that Monu Manesar had wreaked havoc in Mewat and was involved in the killing of three Muslim men. His accusations prompted Dushyant Chautala to announce the formation of a committee to investigate the claims made by Khan.

Plea in Supreme Court: A petition was moved in the Supreme Court seeking to stop the rallies announced by VHP and Bajrang Dal in Delhi-NCR following the Nuh communal violence. In its order on Wednesday, the top court said the "rallies can go on but should be video graphed"

Also read:  Exactly what went down in Nuh and Gurugram: The why and how of Haryana communal clashes