Rajasthan: Cong snipes at govt after cop’s death in shootout
The Congress walked out of the Assembly on Tuesday over the government’s failure to maintain law and order, a day after a police officer was killed and another injured in a shootout in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district.
The Congress walked out of the Assembly on Tuesday over the government’s failure to maintain law and order, a day after a police officer was killed and another injured in a shootout in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district.
During the Zero Hour, leader of Opposition Rameshwar Dudi demanded a reply from home minister Gulab Chand Kataria on the shootout and the law and order situation in the state.
Dudi told the House that the Fortuner SUV recovered from the gangsters was robbed from his uncle. On February 27, he said, on the way to Bikaner from Lunkaransar, his uncle was accosted and the car was taken away at gunpoint. “The law and order situation is zero and gang war is spreading. The home minister should give his statement in the House,” Dudi said.
Kataria said the Special Operation Group received information that a notorious criminal and his associates had entered Jaipur. One of the criminals, Shankar, was arrested in Mansarovar, he said.
A member of the Raju Theth gang, Shankar revealed during questioning that three gangsters — Goldie (Agra), Harendra Yadav (Gwalior), and Rohit (Haryana) — armed with an AK 47 and three pistols, were travelling to the city in a Fortuner car.
Director general of police Manoj Bhatt ordered an A-category blockade to apprehend the criminals.
A car chase ensued, and culminated in a fire-fight in which two policemen were injured. At least one of the gangsters was wounded as well, eyewitnesses said. Taking advantage of the darkness, however, the culprits escaped.
The injured personnel were taken to Nagaur government hospital and later to Jodhpur. While one died during treatment, the other is said to be out of danger. A large cache of ammunition, a knife, some opium, seven mobile phones, clothes and bedding were recovered from the car used by the gangsters.
Kataria said the gangsters escaped because “our police do not have the latest weapons”. Despite this, he said, 12 people were arrested, and urged the House to not demoralise the police force.
This statement caused uproar in the House.
Kataria said the report on gang leader Anandpal Singh will be filed on March 31, and that he will look into any lapses and act accordingly: “Till Anandpal and gang are not finished, I will not rest.”
Unsatisfied with Kataria’s response, however, the Opposition staged a walkout.