‘Stopped truck over cow transport tip, found toiletries’: What happened moments before death of ‘Farsa Wale Baba’

AGRA: A seer associated with cow vigilantism in Mathura was crushed to death by a speeding truck in dense fog on the busy Delhi-Agra NH early Sat, triggering a massive protest by locals after rumours spread that the man, Chandrashekhar alias ‘Farsa Wale Baba', was "deliberately run over by cow smugglers".

According to police, additional security forces along with Provincial Armed Constabulary had to be called to bring the situation under control. Police resorted to tear gas shelling amid intense stone-pelting by a large crowd which blocked NH-19 for over three hours. Vehicles, including those belonging to police and other officials, were damaged. At least three cops suffered injuries and about 10 protesters were held, officials said.

Chandrashekhar used to run cow shelters in Mathura. On Sat, he reached the highway stretch in Kosikalan area around 4am and stopped a container truck with Nagaland numberplate on information that "cows were being transported". The container was, however, found carrying soap, phenyl and shampoo bottles.

While inspecting, a speeding truck hit the stationary vehicle and went on to run over Chandrashekhar. Soon, rumours spread that he was killed by "cow smugglers" and a large crowd began to assemble on the highway.

DIG range (Agra), Shailesh Pandey, said, "The incident took place when a few ‘gau rakshaks', including the seer, had stopped a vehicle for inspection. Then, due to dense fog, another truck coming from behind hit the stationary vehicle, leading to Chandrashekhar's death. Some people then placed his body at an intersection on the NH and blocked traffic."

Mathura DM CP Singh said, "Baba was respected by a lot of people in Mathura. His followers have come up with a few demands that the cow shelters run by him should be administered by the local authorities now. We've also agreed that a ‘samadhi sthal' be built."

Singh added: "Ten people have been held. Others involved are being identified. Strict action will be taken against them. Efforts are on to restore order." Chandrashekhar was cremated amid heavy police presence later in the day.

Khurshid Anwar, the driver of the speeding truck, suffered critical injuries after his vehicle struck the container truck. He died later at a hospital in Agra.

The incident happened at a time when President Droupadi Murmu was on a ‘parikrama' at Govardhan parvat. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has hit out at the administration after the violence.