Supporters of Yogesh Raj, district convenor of Bajrang Dal and the prime accused of the Syana/Bulandshahr violence have started a campaign on social media seeking support, justice, and expressing their solidarity towards him.

One of the supporters Amit Kumar Mahur updated his profile picture on Facebook and WhatsApp with the picture of Yogesh Raj as his DP. He wrote on his Facebook wall in Hindi “Mai bhi Yogesh Raj Hun” (I’m also Yogesh Raj) Bharat Mata Ki Jai. In his Facebook post, Mahur extends his solidarity to Raj and wrote that he is with Yogesh Raj and all innocent Hindus. He also wrote, “Give justice to martyr Sumit.”

As soon as the post was shared it started getting ‘likes.’ Within no time more than 200 users liked it while many wrote comments pledging their support for Yogesh.

Apart from Mahur, Manish Bhardwaj of Bulandshahr commented, “Hum iss Dharm Yudh me Yogesh Raj aur Bajrang Dal ke Saath hai.” (We are with Yogesh Raj and Bajrang Dal in this Dharm Yudh).

Another post read, “Yogesh Raj ko insaaf milna chahiye.” (Yogesh Raj should get justice). Another post read “Ya to BJP police ko sudhaar le nahi to hum Hindu BJP ko sudhar denge. Yogesh Raj Nirdosh Hai.” (Either the BJP should rein in the police or we Hindus will rein in the BJP. Yogesh Raj is innocent).

The campaign on social media to draw support for Yogesh Raj started just a day after the Bajrang Dal leader himself released a video pleading his innocence.

It may be noted that Yogesh Raj is the prime accused along with the 28 others named in the FIR after violence broke out on Monday after the carcasses of cows were recovered from a field in Syana. Inspector Subodh Kumar and a villager Sumit were killed in the violence.

Since Raj is booked as the prime accused in the case, the police are aggressively searching for him.

According to the sources, this campaign on social media has alarmed the police which is keeping a close eye on it so that the situation does not turn volatile.

A police official, on condition of anonymity, admitted that the local intelligence, as well as the cyber cell of the department, is keeping a tight vigil on social media. “We are prepared to handle any situation,” he said.

The sources said that senior Bajrang Dal leaders are also extending their support to Raj and the other accused. A few senior leaders of Bajrang Dal and VHP also visited the villages of Yogesh Raj and jailed Bajrang Dal activists and met their families. They have assured every possible help.