The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD)’s Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathee and a party worker fell victim to an attack by unidentified assailants in Bahadurgarh near Delhi on Sunday. According to a senior party leader, the assailants sprayed their SUV with bullets, resulting in fatal injuries to Rathee and the party worker, news agency PTI reported. Additionally, three private gunmen, hired by Rathee for security, were also injured in the assault.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expressed strong condemnation of the attack, asserting, “Not a single culprit involved in this case will be spared.” He assured swift action, stating, “Police have been instructed to arrest the accused as soon as possible and take strictest action.” Expressing his condolences, Khattar posted on X in Hindi, “Shocked by the sudden demise of Rathi ji and Shri Jai Kishan. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We are with them in this difficult time.”
INLD पार्टी के हरियाणा प्रदेशाध्यक्ष श्री नफ़े सिंह राठी जी और श्री जय किशन के आकस्मिक निधन से स्तब्ध हूँ। शोकाकुल परिवारजनों के साथ मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं हैं, इस कठिन समय में हम उनके साथ हैं।
इस मामले में संलिप्त एक भी दोषी को बख़्शा नहीं जाएगा। पुलिस को आरोपियों को जल्द से जल्द…
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) February 25, 2024
Home Minister Anil Vij reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the incident promptly, stating, “I spoke to officials and ordered them to take immediate action in the matter.” He informed that the Special Task Force is investigating the incident and assured that the culprits will be apprehended soon.
INLD leader Abhay Chautala confirmed the tragic deaths of Rathee and the accompanying party worker, identifying the latter as Jai Kishan. Chautala emphasised the absence of police security for Rathee, stating, “No police security had been given to him.” He further demanded a CBI probe into the incident and criticised the government’s failure to provide adequate security despite perceived threats to Rathee’s life, PTI reported.
Chautala accused the government of negligence, stating, “The two-time MLA, who is our state unit chief, was not provided with security.” He highlighted previous communications with police officials regarding the threats faced by Rathee.
Jhajjar Superintendent of Police Arpit Jain assured that law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the incident. “Multiple teams are probing. We are probing all angles and we will try to arrest the accused soon,” he stated.
The opposition parties, including the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), condemned the incident, attributing it to the alleged deterioration of law and order in Haryana under the BJP-led government. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lamented the incident, accusing the BJP of undermining law and order in the state.
“The death of INLD leader Nafe Singh ji in open firing in Haryana is very sad. I express my condolences to his family and supporters. BJP has ruined the law and order system of Haryana. Police was to be deployed to catch the miscreants but BJP has deployed Haryana Police on the border to stop the farmers,” he remarked in an X post.
Senior Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Randeep Singh Surjewala expressed deep concern over the incident, citing it as evidence of the breakdown of law and order in Haryana. AAP leader Sushil Gupta echoed similar sentiments, declaring that “rule of law has ended in Haryana.” More On It: ‘Law And Order Situation In Tatters’: Congress, AAP Slam Khattar Govt After INLD Haryana Chief Shot Dead In Jhajjar
Rathee, aged 67, was a two-time MLA from Bahadurgarh and had been serving as the state unit chief of INLD.
