Haryana INLD chief’s murder: BJP ex-MLA Naresh Kaushik among 12 booked, no arrest yet

Ravinder Saini

Jhajjar, February 26

The police today booked 12 persons, including former BJP MLA from Bahadurgarh Naresh Kaushik and five unknown persons, in connection with the murder of INLD state chief and two-time former MLA Nafe Singh Rathi and his aide Jai Kishan Dalal.

Will order CBI probe, Vij assures Assembly

• Home Minister Anil Vij on Monday told the Assembly that a CBI probe would be announced into the murder
• The announcement came after the Congress demanded a high court judge-monitored CBI probe into the killing

Both were shot dead by assailants in Bahadurgarh on Sunday evening. Six others who have been named in the FIR are Ramesh Rathi, husband of Bahadurgarh Municipal Council (BMC) chairperson Saroj Rathi, former BMC chief Karamvir Rathi, former minister Mange Ram Rathi’s son Satish Rathi and grandsons Gaurav and Rahul and one Kamal. No arrest was made till the filing of the report even as the police claimed to have got some vital leads in the case.

As per the FIR, the attack took place around 5:15 pm at Barahi level crossing in Bahadurgarh on Sunday when Rathi, his nephew Rakesh, who was driving the SUV, Jai Kishan of Mandothi village and Sanjeet of Kablana village were returning from Aasodha village after attending a function.

In his complaint, Rakesh said, “I tried to speed up the SUV a white car chasing us, but the level crossing was closed, forcing me to stop the vehicle. Five armed youths hurriedly disembarked from the white car and started firing at us indiscriminately. My maternal uncle (Rathi) and Jai Kishan died on the spot while Sanjeet sustained critical injuries. I too got bullet injuries on the arm, ribs and thigh. A passerby then drove our SUV to a hospital.”

As per the FIR, one of the shooters told Rakesh, “Tujhe zinda chor rahe hain, jake inke ghar bata diyo (we are sparing you, go and tell his family).”

Jhajjar SP Dr Arpit Jain said some persons had been rounded up for questioning. “We have got crucial information regarding the case and our teams are working on it,” he added.

On INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala’s charge that security of those named in the FIR had been beefed up, the SP said they would give security to all those who needed it.

Jhajjar DC Shakti Singh said CCTV footage had been procured from various points near the crime site and the same was being analysed.