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Supari killers behind sarpanch murder: Kin
Cong MLA, ACP part of plot, they allege; Haryana Govt agrees for judicial probe
Sunit Dhawan / TNS

Hayatpur (Gurgaon), June 24
Family members of Rakesh, the Hayatpur village sarpanch who was gunned down by unidentified assailants yesterday, today alleged that a Congress MLA and an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) were involved in the conspiracy to kill the village head.

The sarpanch’s kin and other villagers claimed that it was a case of supari killing. The conspiracy to kill Rakesh had been hatched at Badshahpur MLA Rao Dharampal’s place, they alleged. When asked, Rao rubbished the charges.

A panchayat, comprising members of nearly 10 villages, was called at Hayatpur this morning. The villagers demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident, handing over of the case to the state crime branch, sacking of ACP Sumer Singh and police protection for the witnesses.

With the villagers refusing to talk to any police official, Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner PC Meena went to the village and assured the panchayat of all possible help. He promised that any official found guilty of misconduct would not be spared.

The Congress MP from Gurgaon, Rao Inderjeet Singh, who was also present at the panchayat, lashed out at the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and claimed that the people were fed up with the functioning of the police.

Later in the day, Meena told The Tribune that the state government had agreed to the villagers’ demand of a judicial inquiry into the case. The Crime Branch would take over the case, he said.

On being contacted, Gurgaon Police Commissioner SS Deswal said ACP Sumer Singh had been transferred to PTC, Sunaria, after his name figured in the case. The police has announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for anyone who helps in the arrest of Rakesh, the prime suspect in the case.

Hayatpur residents, meanwhile, claimed that some police personnel in plain clothes, and not the villagers, had set ablaze one of the assailants. In his defence, Congress MLA Rao, said his rivals were out to malign his image by dragging his name into the case. “My political opponents are inciting the villagers to drag my name into the matter. I am not involved in the case in any way. The sarpanch who has been killed was quite close to me and I will extend all possible support to his family,” he said.