The Faridabad police formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident in which the younger brother of cow vigilante Bittu Bajrangi, officials aware of the matter said on Friday.
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Police said Mahesh Panchal, 32, the victim, is undergoing treatment and was reportedly stable. Panchal had suffered 60% burns after six unidentified men allegedly sprinkled petrol on him and set him afire.
Police said that the attackers confirmed Panchal’s relation with Bajrangi before setting him ablaze. “When my brother confirmed that, they poured petrol on him and set him on fire and fled from the spot,” said Bajrangi, who was arrested for his alleged role in the communal violence in Haryana’s Nuh and Gurugram that left six dead in July.
Police said that the attackers fled in a car and that the investigators were scanning CCTV footage of the area to identify them.
Aman Yadav, assistant commissioner of police (crime), said police teams visited the crime spot on Friday and retrieved CCTV footage from around the area. “The suspects will be arrested soon. One of them who has been identified is on the run. We have sent victim’s clothes for forensic analysis,” he said.
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The SIT includes the station house officer (SHO) of Saran Police Station, the in-charge of Parvatiya Colony police post, and the crime branch sector-48 in-charge, Yadav said.
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The SIT includes the station house officer (SHO) of Saran Police Station, the in-charge of Parvatiya Colony police post, and the crime branch sector-48 in-charge, Yadav said.
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Bajragi called the attack an act of revenge against him. “Since I work for the protection of cows and run my group to rescue the smuggled cows, some people have tried to kill my brother,” he said.
Bajrangi, who heads the Goarakshak Bajrang Force, was booked for rioting, assault, brandishing weapons, and dacoity in connection with the communal violence in July.
Bajrangi, who was among 292 people arrested for the violence, and another cow vigilante Mohit Yadav or Monu Manesar, were accused of releasing provocative videos that inflamed communal tensions.
Bajrangi has also sought police security for himself.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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