New Delhi:

The nephew of Nafe Singh Rathi was at the wheel when the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader was riddled with bullets last afternoon near a Railway crossing in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. Rajesh has told police in his complaint that Mr Rathi, his maternal uncle, was sitting on the front left seat, right next to him, in the Toyota Fortuner SUV.

The rear seat was occupied by a gunner posted in the 66-year-old INLD leader’s security and a party colleague, Jaikishan Dalal. The SUV was waiting at the Barahi railway crossing on the way to Bahadurgarh when a car stopped behind it. Five men approached the SUV and fired at least 20 rounds, Rajesh has said.

According to the complaint, one of the shooters told Rajesh after the firing stopped, “Tujhe zinda chor rahe hain, jake inke ghar bata diyo (we are sparing you, go and tell his family.)”

On the basis of Rajesh’s complaint, police have registered a case of murder against seven people, including BJP leader Naresh Kaushik, and several relatives of Bahadurgarh municipal corporation chaiperson Saroj Rathi. Charges of criminal conspiracy and Arms Act have also been slapped against the accused.

CCTV footage from the vicinity has shown an i20 car tailing the SUV Mr Rathi was travelling in. The same camera has captured the car returning about 20 minutes later. Police suspect the killers came in this car.

The broad daylight shooting has sent shockwaves through Haryana and sparked criticism for the Manohar Lal Khattar government months ahead of the general and state elections. INLD leader Abhay Chautala has alleged that Mr Rathi, the party’s Haryana chief, had asked for more security months back, but it was not provided. The Congress and AAP, too, have slammed the state government over the shocking incident.

“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 the strictest action,” Chief Minister Khattar has said.

New Delhi:

The SUV in which Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Nafe Singh Rathi was travelling in had stopped at a railway crossing yesterday when a car stopped near the vehicle. Five men got off, and what followed was a spray of bullets at the Toyota Fortuner the INLD leader was in. Sixty-six-year-old Rathi and one of his aides were killed in the shooting, and two others were left critically injured.

Police are now looking for the i20 car the killers are suspected to have used. In CCTV footage from the area in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, the car is seen following the SUV as it approaches the railway crossing. The same camera captured the car returning, about 20 minutes later.  

Mr Rathi was sitting in the front and his nephew was driving. At the rear were INLD leader Jaikishan Dalal and a gunner deployed for the INLD leader’s security. Police sources said about 20 rounds were fired, most of them at the prime target.

NDTV visited the spot this morning, hours after the attack sent shockwaves through the state. Pieces of glass from the car’s windows were on the ground. The railway crossing in Barahi is on the way to Mr Rathi’s home in Bahadurgarh. It was shut at the time and the killers, police said, took this opportunity to complete their task. Police sources said the attack appears to have been carried out by professionals.

A case of murder has been registered against BJP leader Naresh Kaushik and several family members of Bahadurgarh municipal corporation chairperson Saroj Rathi, among others.

Senior police officer Arpit Jain said five teams led by two DSP-rank officers are investigating the killing. “We will trace the killers at the earliest,” he 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 the strictest action,” Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said yesterday.

The Opposition has slammed the state government and alleged a breakdown in Haryana’s law and order situation. INLD leader Abhay Chautala alleged that Mr Rathi wasn’t provided security even though he had “asked for it in writing” months ago. The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party also targeted the Manohar Lal Khattar government over the incident.

Mr Rathi’s name hit headlines last year in an abetment to suicide case. Former Haryana minister Mange Ram Rathi’s son had Jagdish died by suicide and a case was registered against Mr Rathi under charges of abetment. Allegations of harassment were also levelled against Mr Rathi and his nephew Sonu. The INLD leader was granted anticipatory bail by the High Court on January 24 last year.