JAIPUR: The ‘gau rakshak’ army is turning ‘secular’ with the Rashtriya Muslim Manch (RMM), an offshoot of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), deciding to extend a ‘helping hand’ to the controversial cow vigilante groups infamous for using violence against cow traders.The RMM has formed the Muslim Gau Raksha Samiti (MGRS) in Rajasthan and started patrolling areas known for cow trading like the vigilante groups.“Our initial focus is to build a dedicated cadre in every district which will eventually work in close coordination with ‘gau rakshaks’. We have independently tracked a few vehicles but found they were transporting oxen with proper papers,” said Mohammad Shafi Chauhan, a firebrand RMM leader based in Nagaur.Chauhan was nominated as head of the Nagaur Gaushala Sangh which has 700 registered cow shelters and a dedicated cadre of 2,100 persons, mostly Hindus. Due to his dedicated work for running cow shelters, from raising funds to treatment, he was inducted into RMM two months ago.The MGRS has started expanding its base by running a membership drive in several districts such as Nagaur, Ajmer and Bhilwara as well as in the Shekawati region.“We will draft a separate cadre of informers in all potential tehsils. They will provide information which we will crosscheck before tracking them,” said Chauhan, who has been associated with cow shelters since 2001.The MGRS has received mass support from Muslims and it was only a matter of time before the group swelled into thousands, claimed Chauhan.The group has trained its activists to track smuggled cows and unload them safely from vehicles. They have also appointed informers in several key areas for passing information.When asked how MGRS would ensure that their cadre does not break the law, Chauhan replied, “We don’t believe in violence of any sort. Our cadre has been asked not to indulge in violence in case they found cows being smuggled. Rather use the Constitutional right of civil arrest till the police arrive.” Like ‘gau rakshaks,’ the MGRS will have SUVs on standby mode.Explaining the need for forming the MGRS, state president of RMM and national general secretary of BJP minority morcha Silawat Khan said, “The cow is sacred for the Hindu community. If our Hindu brothers take care of my cultural and religious sensibilities, it becomes my duty to respect their faith and beliefs.” The MGRS units in Rajasthan and Gujarat will hold a meeting in Delhi on December 6 to plan a national roadmap for the body.