Uttar Pradesh ‘Gau Rakshak’ Who Shot Biryani Vendor Claiming ‘Pahalgam Revenge’ Arrested; Police Term It a ‘Publicity Stunt’

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Gau Raksha

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Agra: Police have arrested a self-styled ‘gau rakshak’ (cow vigilante) accused of fatally shooting a biryani vendor in Agra’s Tajganj area on Wednesday night after he released a video claiming the act was revenge for the Pahalgam attack.

Agra police commissioner Deepak Kumar stated that the arrested man, who identified himself in the video as Manoj Chaudhary, claimed to be part of the Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal. Sources said he was captured following extensive raids in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

On the night of April 23, 27-year-old Gulfam Ali, who worked at Shahid Ali Chicken Biryani, owned by his cousin, was closing the shop when three men arrived on a scooter. Two approached him and greeted him, and one then shot him in the chest.

Gulfam’s co-worker, 25-year-old Saif Ali, sustained minor injuries during the incident. The attackers fled immediately after the shooting.

Later, a video surfaced online featuring Chaudhary, with pistols tucked into his jeans, claiming responsibility for the murder on behalf of the Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal. He declared that he intended to avenge the deaths of 26 people — a reference to the Pahalgam incident — by retaliating with 2,600 killings.

Police had earlier dismissed any ties between the killing and an active Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal group in Agra, labelling the video a likely “publicity stunt”.

After the arrest, Commissioner Kumar reaffirmed this stance, suggesting the murder was likely the result of a dispute over the quality of food served by the biryani shop days earlier.

Gulfam Ali is survived by his wife, Fiza, 23, and their three children — eight-month-old Mahir Raza, two-and-a-half-year-old Farhan, and five-year-old Jannat.

Speaking to TOI, Gulfam’s father, Imam Baksh, said, “Who will support them now? I don’t know why my son was killed. He had no enmity with anyone. I request the government to offer financial support to the family.”

Baksh also added, “That video was an attempt to disturb Hindu-Muslim unity in the area. We believe in the law and the Constitution, and the accused should be punished according to the law.”

Team Profile

Aryan Gulati
Aryan GulatiFreelance Journalist
Aryan Gulati is a dedicated media student based in Meerut with a wealth of experience in various newspapers and media houses. He has numerous published articles and specializes in political and crime news writing, demonstrating a strong commitment to impactful journalism.

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