Bhiwani, February 22
Family members and supporters of BJP leader Rakesh Malik, who was murdered at his office in Tosham town of Bhiwani district on Friday night, today refused to cremate the body until the accused were arrested.

The police have registered a case against two unidentified persons. The agitators, however, said they suspected the role of Tosham MLA and Excise and Taxation Minister Kiran Chaudhary and her MP daughter Shruti Chaudhary in the incident and sought registration of a case against them. Malik, who was also the president of the local Beopar Mandal, was sitting in his office around 9 pm when two motorcycle-borne youths wearing helmets came there and opened fire on him.

Malik was rushed to the Civil Hospital, Hisar, with five bullet injuries, where he was declared “brought dead”. He had joined the BJP recently and announced to hold a rally on March 1. Agitated family members and Malik’s supporters blocked the road outside the Civil Hospital, Hisar, in support of their demand. However, after a police intervention, they decided to return to Tosham.

They placed the body in the middle of a chowk at Tosham and said they would not cremate it till the suspects in the case were not booked.

The agitators have formed an 11-member committee to hold talks with the district administration. Police and administrative officials have been in talks with the committee members in a bid to defuse the situation.

Rakesh Malik’s brother Krishan Malik said he suspected the role of Congress minister Kiran Chaudhary and her MP daughter Shruti in the murder. He alleged his brother had been receiving threats in the past. Sales tax officials had raided his stone crusher at the behest of Chaudhary recently, he added.

Hisar IGP SS Kapoor said the police had started a probe into the case.