Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its offshoot Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) would hold a meeting in Agra on Sunday to condole and protest against the murder of Arun Kumar Mahaur, Dalit VHP leader, who was shot dead by five men in Mandola area Thursday morning.

RSS’ Sah Sarkaryavah Krishna Gopal and VHP national joint general secretary Surendra Jain would address the meeting to be organised at Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Nai ki Mandi. Workers from various wings of RSS, VHP and BJP from Braj region are likely to attend.

Mahaur, the VHP’s district vice-president, was returning to his furniture shop after offering prayers at a temple near Meer Hussaini crossing when he was shot around 10.30 am on Thursday. VHP leaders have alleged that local Muslims were behind Mahaur’s murder because he was running a relentless campaign against cow slaughter.

The victim’s brother had accused Shahrukh, Raja, Dilshad, Imtiyaz and Abid — all belonging to the same area — for the killing. Following the incident, hundreds of VHP, Bajrang Dal and BJP workers had staged a dharna demanding that the accused be arrested without delay. Meanwhile, the state government had announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh for Mahaur’s family.

“In the Shradhanjali Sabha, the Akhilesh Yadav government will be warned to take a serious note of the incident. Strict action must be taken against those who are behind Mahaur’s murder. Otherwise, the entire Dalit community will begin an agitation,” Surendra Jain said.

He added: “Those who were making a mockery of law and order in UP so far, have started killing Dalits who have been working for protection of cows. The Dalit community has taken up this incident as a challenge.”

In Sunday’s meeting, Jain said the state government would be asked to protect the sentiments of Hindus and take action against those involved in cow slaughtering. “Besides thee five persons named in Mahaur’s murder case, others too are behind the killing. We want the state government to identify those persons and arrest them,” he added.

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