Bhiwani killings: Nuh police file case against Rajasthan police

Bhiwani killings: Haryana Police on Tuesday registered a criminal case against unidentified police personnel of the Rajasthan Police for allegedly assaulting the pregnant wife of one of the five men accused of killing two men from Rajasthan whose bodies were found charred inside a car on February 16.

Updated on: Feb 22, 2023, 01:57:49 IST

By Leena Dhankhar, Gurugram

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Haryana Police on Tuesday registered a criminal case against unidentified police personnel of the Rajasthan Police for allegedly assaulting the pregnant wife of one of the five men accused of killing two men from Rajasthan whose bodies were found charred inside a car on February 16.

Charred remains of a vehicle where bodies of two Muslim men were found at Loharu in Bhiwani district of Haryana. (PTI)

The case was filed after the family of Shrikant Pandit, a member of Gau Rakshak Dal, alleged that policemen from Rajasthan barged into their home on February 17, and hit Kamlesh Pandit, who was nine months pregnant at the time, ostensibly causing a miscarriage. Rajasthan Police denied the allegations.

Dulari Devi, the mother of Shrikant Pandit, said that at 3.30am on February 17, between 30 and 40 Rajasthan Police personnel barged into their home in Maroda village, and assaulted her daughter-in-law.

“Kamlesh was nine months pregnant. We pleaded with the police, some of whom were in plain clothes, but they abused us, assaulted us, and took our two sons with them,” Devi said.

Srikant Pandit was not at home when police visited the family. Devi’s sons – Vishnu and Rahul – returned later after police interrogation.

Devi said that Kamlesh was pushed to the ground and fell on her stomach. “She was screaming in pain but they left her in a pool of blood and went away. By the time we reached the hospital, doctors informed us she had miscarried,” she said.

Police have registered a case under sections 312 (causing miscarriage), 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (assault), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 452 (house trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) of Indian Penal Code at Nagina police station in Haryana.

Senior Haryana Police officials said that the National Commission of Women took cognisance of the matter and had written to them to take action.

On Sunday, Nuh police exhumed the “foetus” and a post mortem report was conducted, but the cause of death is still not clear.

Varun Singla, superintendent of police, Nuh, said, “We are verifying all the facts and details. Despite the post mortem report, the cause of death is still not clear which is why we have sent the viscera to the lab for further investigation.”

Rajasthan Police denied these allegations and said Haryana Police officials always accompanied them when they went to Haryana in connection with the case.

Umesh Mishra, Rajasthan director general of police, said, “The Rajasthan Police have always been accompanied by their Haryana counterparts. Lawful action has been taken as per prescribed procedure, and no human rights have been violated.”

Usha Kundu, assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Nuh, said that their teams accompanied Rajasthan Police, but had returned after showing them Pandit’s home. “We are unaware of what happened after that. We are conducting an investigation,” she said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More