Nafe Singh Rathi shot dead near railway crossing in Jhajjar, Haryana
New Delhi:
Nafe Singh Rathi’s nephew was driving the vehicle when the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader was gunned down yesterday afternoon near a railway crossing in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. In his complaint, Rajesh has told the police that his maternal uncle Mr. Rathi was sitting right next to him in the front left seat of the Toyota Fortuner SUV.
Gunner and party associate Jaikishan Dalal, deployed for the security of the 66-year-old INLD leader, were sitting on the back seat. The SUV was waiting at Barahi railway crossing on the way to Bahadurgarh when a car stopped behind it. Rajesh said that five people came near the SUV and fired at least 20 rounds.
According to the complaint, after the firing stopped, one of the shooters told Rajesh, “Tujhe zinda chor rahe hain, jaake inke ghar bata diyo (We are sparing you, go and tell his family.)”
Based on Rajesh’s complaint, the police have registered a case of murder against seven people, including several relatives of BJP leader Naresh Kaushik and Bahadurgarh Municipal Corporation Chairperson Saroj Rathi. Charges of criminal conspiracy and Arms Act have also been leveled against the accused.
CCTV footage from nearby shows an i20 car following the SUV in which Mr Rathi was travelling. The same camera captured the car returning after about 20 minutes. Police suspect that the killers had come in this car.
The broad daylight firing has shocked entire Haryana and triggered criticism of the Manohar Lal Khattar government, just months before the general and state elections. INLD leader Abhay Chautala has alleged that the party’s Haryana chief Mr Rathi had sought more security months ago, but was not provided. Congress and AAP have also criticized the state government over this shocking incident.
Chief Minister Khattar has said, “Not a single culprit involved in this case will be spared.” The police have been directed to arrest the accused as soon as possible and take the strictest action.
