INLD Haryana President Nafe Singh Rathi Shot Dead In Jhajjar; Opposition Slams Khattar Government Over Law And Order

In a shocking development, Haryana Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) President, Nate Singh Rathi was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Sunday evening in an act of ambush at Bhadurgarh in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. Another associate of Rathi was killed by bullets while two others travelling along with him in the same car are critically injured, admitted to hospital. According to initial details, Rathi and his associates were inside the SUV when the gunmen who came in a car, opened indiscriminate firing before fleeing from the spot. There were several bullet marks on the car, now seized by police.

Rathi was a former MLA from Bahadurgarh where the ambush took place. A prominent Jat leader, Rathi has had a long political career of over four decades. This attack came amidst alliance talks between INLD and Congress for INDIA alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The attack has thus, prompted sharp criticism from the opposition parties, questioning the law and order in the BJP ruled state.

“This shows the state affairs in Haryana. The law and order system has completely collapsed in the state. No body feels safe in the state anymore”, said Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Haryana Chief Minister targeting the government of Manohar Lal Khattar.

INLD leader Abhay Chautala claimed that the state hadn’t provided security to Rathi even after security threat. “The state government didn’t provide him security. He had written to the police sensing threat to his life and the letter was written months ago but police didn’t give him any additional security”, said Chautala.

Rathi, 66, became the MLA from Bahadurgarh on the INLD ticket from 1996 to 2005. He has also served as the chairman of Bahadurgarh Municipal Council. He finally became the president of the party, Haryana unit. For a brief period he had joined BJP after INLD had denied him ticket. But BJP too had denied him ticket, he thereafter contested as an Independent. He returned to INLD in 2018.

Meanwhile Haryana police have launched an investigation, no arrests as yet.