INLD Haryana unit chief Nafe Singh Rathee, party worker gunned down in Jhajjar
Nafe Singh Rathee, a former MLA, was travelling in an SUV car when the assailants attacked him in Jhajjar's Bahadurgarh town.
Indian National Lok Dal's Haryana state unit chief Nafe Singh Rathee and a party worker were shot dead by some unidentified assailants in state's Jhajjar district, a senior party leader said on Sunday.
Rathee, a former MLA, was travelling when the assailants sprayed bullets on their SUV in Jhajjar's Bahadurgarh town. Three private gunmen hired by Rathee for security also suffered injuries in the attack, news agency PTI reported.
INLD leader Abhay Chautala accused the state government of failing to provide Rathee with security despite there being threat to his life, and demanded the resignation of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and state home minister Anil Vij.
"The two-time MLA, who is our state unit chief, was not provided with security. In writing, representations had been made to senior police officers and state home minister that he was facing threats and should be provided with security," Chautala told PTI.
The attack, which came ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, drew sharp reactions from opposition parties, which alleged a breakdown in law and order in the BJP-ruled state.
Former Haryana chief minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed his condolence over the death of the former MLA and accused the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government of neglecting the law and order situation in the state saying that the situation of law and order under Khattar has become bankrupt.
“The news of INLD State President Shri Nafe Singh Rathi being shot dead in Haryana is very sad. This reflects the law and order of the state. This incident made it clear that law and order has become bankrupt. Today no one is feeling safe in the state. My tribute to the departed soul and deep condolences to the family. I pray to God to give strength to the family members to bear this loss. I wish for the speedy recovery of the security personnel injured in the attack,” he said in a post on X.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sushil Gupta also slammed the Khattar government saying that "rule of law has ended in Haryana and jungle raj prevails". "No one is safe in Haryana today," he added.
Meanwhile, state home minister Anil Vij took cognisance of the matter and asked the officials to take immediate action over the shooting incident.
“...I have asked the officials to take immediate action in this matter. STF has also swung into action...The incident is being investigated,” ANI quoted Vij as saying.
Meanwhile, Dr Manish Sharma of Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital, where the INLD leader was admitted said that the former MLA and one of his party worker was brought dead while two others were admitted to the ICU with gunshot wounds.
“In the evening, four people who had been shot were brought to Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital. Out of them, two had suffered heavy bleeding and were brought dead, still, we tried CPR but they couldn't be saved. Two others are admitted to the ICU with gunshot wounds on the shoulder, thigh, and left side of the chest... Former MLA Nafe Singh and another person Jaikishan were brought dead. They were shot in the neck, back, and shoulder. Multiple wounds suggest there were multiple rounds of fire... Sudden major vessel damage causes heavy blood loss and eventually, heart attack,” the doctor said to ANI.
Further Jhajjar SP Arpit Jain said, “We received information regarding an incident of firing. CIA and STF teams are working. The accused will be arrested soon.”