INLD leader's death: BJP leader among 7 named in FIR
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) Haryana chief Nafe Singh Rathee was shot dead in Jhajjar district's Bahadurgarh on Sunday. Now, surveillance camera footage has emerged, which shows the killer's movement in a Hyundai i20 just before they sprayed Rathee's SUV with bullets. The 66-year-old former MLA and one of his aides were killed in the attack, while two others suffered critical injuries. Moreover, a leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), among others, has been booked in the case.
BJP leader among 7 named in FIR for Rathee's murder
A murder case has been filed against seven people. These included BJP leader and former legislator Naresh Kaushik and several relatives of Bahadurgarh Municipal Corporation Chairperson Saroj Rathi. Additional charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code have also been added to the FIR. Rathee's family suspects former Haryana minister Mange Ram Numberdar's involvement in the murder. To recall, Rathee was implicated in an abetment to suicide case involving Numberdar's son last year.
Police on lookout for car used by attackers
According to reports, Rathee's car stopped at a railway crossing on Sunday when the attackers' car pulled up nearby. They fired at Rathee's car while he was in the front seat and his nephew was driving. Around 20 shots were fired, leaving bullet marks on Rathee's car, reports said. The police are now searching for the i20 car used by the attackers. CCTV footage shows the attackers' car following Rathee's SUV to the crossing and returning about 20 minutes later.
Watch: CCTV footage of the incident
Opposition slams Haryana government over law and order situation
The assault on Rathee, just months before the Lok Sabha elections, sparked strong criticism from opposition parties, which claimed a collapse in law and order in the BJP-governed state. However, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar assured that "not a single culprit involved in this case will be spared." Khattar has directed the police to apprehend the suspects as quickly as possible and take the most severe action.
'Political people killed my father': Rathee's son
Speaking to the media, Rathee's son, Jitendra Singh Rathee, said that his father was killed "for politics." "We have never had any rivalry with any gang. These are political people who have killed my father for politics," he said. Earlier, the INLD's Abhay Chautala said that Rathee had requested increased security due to threats on his life but did not receive any additional protection.
