New Delhi: Nineteen bullet shells were found at the spot where the Indian National Lok Dal’s (INLD’s) Haryana chief Nafe Singh Rathee was shot dead Sunday, ThePrint has learnt.
The Haryana Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) for murder, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and under other charges, against 12 people, including former Bahadurgarh BJP MLA Naresh Kaushik.
Police sources said the ambush was planned and the accused knew the route taken by Rathee, adding that initial investigations suggest the motive was a “property dispute”. The Opposition raised the matter in assembly Monday, calling Rathee’s murder a “political killing”.
“They had been tracking his route. There are multiple bullet wounds on the deceased,” a senior police officer said.
Rathee was shot by gunmen in Haryana’s Jhajjar district near a railway crossing Sunday. Another party leader, who was travelling with him, was also killed in the firing while two others were critically injured and are undergoing treatment. After the ambush, all injured were taken to the hospital. The former MLA, however, was declared dead on arrival.
The FIR was lodged on the basis of a complaint filed by Rathee’s nephew Rakesh. Rakesh was driving another car and following Rathee’s when the attackers opened fire.
Ramesh Rathee, husband of Bahadurgarh Municipal Council chairperson Saroj Rathee, has also been named in the FIR. He is also a former chairperson of the council.
Nafe Singh Rathee too had previously served two terms as chairperson of this council.
Saroj Rathee’s relatives — Karambir Rathee and Kamal Rathee, Satish Numberdar, son of former minister Mange Ram Rathee, grandsons Gaurav and Rahul — have also been booked on murder and conspiracy charges. The other five are unknown.
According to the complaint, the INLD leader was in the front seat in the SUV while two others were at the back. Rakesh told the police he was trailing the vehicle but couldn’t reach the spot as the railway crossing gate had closed. He said there were five assailants in the car.
‘Threat to his life’, CCTV footage of attackers
Meanwhile, Rathee’s son, Jitendra Rathee, has said his father’s last rites will be performed only after the accused are arrested. Media reports quoted him saying the INLD leader had been asking for security for the last five years. He also said there were inputs from the state’s Crime Investigation Department about a threat to his life.
Party leader Abhay Chautala claimed that Rathee had informed the state six months ago about the danger to his life but “no security was provided to him”.
Chautala said those who needed security were denied but those “accused in several cases” were getting it. “
“I clearly hold the chief minister (Manohar Lal Khattar) responsible for this incident. If someone has given in writing that his life is under threat, then the chief minister should have conducted an investigation and provided him with security. We will demand a CBI investigation should be done in this and the accused be punished,” Chautala told the media.
Haryana’s BJP Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, “Not a single culprit involved in this case will be spared. Police have been instructed to arrest the accused as soon as possible and take strictest action.”
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has also instructed the state police to take immediate action against the accused.
Superintendent of Police Arpit Jain said, “We are investigating all angles and considering all statements given by family members.”
CCTV footage of the assailants just minutes before the killing, also emerged Monday.
Sources said the attackers came in a car, ambushing Rathee’s vehicle and fired incessantly, punching multiple bullet holes in the SUV. The autopsy report of the deceased is awaited.
Rathee has served as a legislator in the Haryana assembly twice and was also the state president of the Haryana Former Legislators Association.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)