INLD's Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathee shot dead in Jhajjar

The Indian National Lok Dal's Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathee and a party worker were shot dead on Sunday when unidentified assailants sprayed bullets on their SUV in Bahadurgarh near Delhi. Three private gunmen hired by Rathee for security also suffered injuries in the attack.

Rathee, a former MLA from Bahadurgarh and aged around 70, was travelling in an SUV when the assailants, who were in a car, attacked him in the town of Jhajjar district.

"I have directed officials to promptly address this issue. The Special Task Force (STF) has been mobilized, and investigations into the incident are underway," said Haryana's Home Minister Anil Vij.


Speaking on the incident, Jhajjar SP Arpit Jain said that the accused will be arrested soon.


INLD demands resignation of Haryana CM and HM:
INLD leader Abhay Chautala has demanded the resignation of Haryana's Chief Minister and Home Minister after claiming that the government failed to provide Rathee with security despite there being a threat to his life. "A volley of bullets was sprayed at him," Chautala said.

"The two-time MLA, who is our state unit chief, was not provided with security. In writing, representations had been made to senior police officers and state home minister that he was facing threats and should be provided with security," he said.

"Had he been provided with security, such a situation would not have arisen," he said.

He also said that law and order has broken down in Haryana and today that has been proved yet again.

Reaction of opposition:
The incident which occurred just weeks before the mega Lok Sabha elections drew sharp reactions from opposition parties, which alleged a breakdown in law and order in the BJP-ruled state.

The opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party also slammed the Manohar Lal Khattar government over the incident.

"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," said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on his social media account on X.

Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, "The news of INLD state president Nafe Singh Rathee being shot dead in Haryana is very sad. This reflects the law and order of the state...Today no one is feeling safe in the state."

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sushil Gupta said that "rule of law has ended in Haryana and jungle raj prevails".

"No one is safe in Haryana today," he added.

(with agency inputs)