New Delhi: Cow vigilantes in Haryana and Rajasthan have been extorting money from cattle smugglers to allow them safe passage through the states, alleged a key accused in the Nasir-Junaid murder case.Anil Multhan, one of the key accused in the case, during his interrogation, told investigators that vigilantes ran a close-knit group and tracked movement of smugglers and trucks carrying cattle, the Tribune reported.Multhan, who was arrested in Gurugram, is in custody of the Deeg police till October 12.The police have identified 21 others, including Monu Manesar, for their alleged involvement in the murder conspiracy.His statements suggested that these groups closely monitored smuggler activities and demanded payments from them. Failure to pay often resulted in violence and police intervention.A senior investigator told the daily that small vigilante groups in Haryana and Rajasthan were being funded by extortion money.“Extortion is the key source of income of these gangs. They have a strong network in Mewat. They have lists of cattle smugglers and seek payment from them for allowing their trucks to pass through the area. If they fail to pay, they are thrashed and handed over to the police,” he said.“The payment depends on the number and type of cattle being smuggled and the area they were caught in,”a senior police official told the daily.Also read: Even After Monu Manesar’s Arrest, Junaid and Nasir’s Kin Continue to Face Hardships, Live In FearNasir and Junaid were reportedly targeted by vigilantes for helping smugglers [pass through the area] without paying extortion money, Muthan told the investigators, per the report. And this irked the vigilantes.The vigilantes planned to catch them red-handed and hand over to the police, but the ploy failed as they could not get hold of the truck smuggling cattle. “They had information that Nasir and Junaid were helping smugglers cross the area and they wanted to catch the duo. However, when they failed to find the truck, they thrashed them,” said the officer, cited above.Deeg Superintendent of Police Brijesh Upadhyay told the newspaper that Multhan was expected to reveal many aspects of the case and cow vigilantism in the region. “He is being questioned. As of now, we can’t give details,” he said.