Rohtak ZP chief, husband booked for abduction of woman member’s son

Rohtak Zila Parishad chairperson Manju Hooda, her husband and former gangster Rajesh alias Sarkari and some other unknown persons have been booked in connection with the kidnapping of the son of a woman member of the parishad.

The son of Zila Parishad member Neelam Khatri was allegedly kidnapped from Ismaila village in the district this morning. The boy was let off by the kidnappers at a dhaba located on the Delhi-Rohtak national highway nearly three hours after being abducted.

“An FIR under Sections 140 (abduction), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as well as Section 25 the Arms Act has been registered against Rohtak Zila Parishad chairperson Manju Hooda, her husband Rajesh alias Sarkari and some unknown persons on the basis of a complaint lodged by Neelam’s niece,” said district police spokesman Sunny Laura.

As per the complaint, Dhairya, 15, was kidnapped from the village while he was going somewhere on his motorcycle early in the morning.

Occupants of a black Thar allegedly hit his motorcycle and made him sit in the car at pistol point.

“I was going to Sonipat when I got a call from my son, who told me that he had been kidnapped. A kidnapper asked me to return to my home, failing which they would kill my son,” said Neelam.

Neelam’s husband Advocate Jagbir Khatri pointed out that 10 of the 14 members of the Zila Parishad had sought a no-confidence motion against the Zila Parishad chairperson Manju Hooda, for which a meeting has been called on Wednesday.

“Two days ahead of the meeting, our son was kidnapped to put pressure

on my wife not to support the no-confidence motion. We have lodged a

complaint with the police in this regard,” said Jagbir, adding that Manju Hooda’s husband Rajesh alias Sarkari was in the car.

However, he maintained that the kidnappers had not tortured his son, rather they gave him a cold coffee to drink and Rs 500.

On the other hand, Manju Hooda has refuted the allegation, maintaining that she and her family had nothing to do with the abduction and these allegations were being levelled to tarnish her image.

It may be pertinent to mention here that Manju Hooda had contested the recent Assembly election against former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency in Rohtak district, but lost.

Meanwhile, a panchayat of Ismaila and nearby villages was held today regarding the matter. The panchayat decided to boycott Rajesh alias Sarkari and gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the police-administration to nab the kidnappers, failing which they would launch a massive agitation, which could include blocking the national highway as well as railway track.

Congress MP from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda also reached the village, where he met the Zila Parishad member, her family and other villagers. He sought strict action against the kidnappers.

“The incident indicates that the BJP government in Haryana is shielding the criminals, due to which the law and order situation in the state has gone to the dogs,” said the Congress leader.

Rohtak Deputy Commissioner has appointed Naib Tehsildar Ankit Kumar as

the Duty Magistrate to ensure the maintenance of law and order during the Zila Parishad meeting convened to discuss the no-confidence motion

against the chairperson on Wednesday.