On Sunday evening Nafe Singh Rathi, who served as the Haryana unit president of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and was a former MLA, was tragically shot and killed in the Jhajjar district.
As Nafe Singh's car was passing through Jhajjar Bahadurgarh, unidentified assailants in another car suddenly opened fire on Nafe's car.
Nafe was sitting in the front seat of the car, and bullets rained down on him. One of his bodyguards was also killed in the shooting, and two others were wounded.
The injured were swiftly taken to Brahm Shakti Sanjivani Hospital, but Rathi was declared dead on arrival.
The state police are on high alert, deploying several teams at the crime scene to collect evidence and review CCTV footage.
The local police chief, Arpit Jain, said that early investigations show the murder might be connected to a disagreement over property.
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associate Kala Jathedi are suspected to be behind the attack. Initial inquiries point towards a property dispute as the potential motive for the assassination.
People from the opposition are saying that law and order in the area are getting worse, and the involvement of criminals is making the situation more complicated.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, expressing condolences, 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 strictest action" .
The sad event has caused strong reactions from the opposing party, claiming that there is a serious problem with the way laws are being maintained in the state ruled by the BJP.
Nafe Singh Rathi had recently expressed concerns about threats to his life and asked for security in meetings with the Chief Minister and the Home Minister. However, opposition leader Abhay Chautala accused the government of denying him security.
Both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party criticized the Khattar government over the incident, raising concerns about the overall security situation in the state.
Nafe Singh Rathi, a former MLA, served as the state president of the Haryana Former Legislators Association.
He actively participated in political affairs, even contesting Lok Sabha elections from Rohtak constituency.
Rathi faced controversy last year in connection with the suicide of Jagdish Rathi, son of former Haryana minister Mange Ram Rathi.
Charges of abetment and harassment were levelled against Rathi and his nephew Sonu. However, he was granted anticipatory bail by the High Court on January 24, 2023.
The assassination of Nafe Singh Rathi has not only sent shockwaves through Haryana but has also reignited debates about the state's law and order situation.
The investigation's outcome and subsequent actions by the government will play a crucial role in addressing the security concerns raised by the opposition and the public.