Karni Sena chief's murder: Markets were closed in Jaipur and some other Rajasthan districts and protesters blocked roads and stopped trains on Wednesday after a bandh call by the Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena over the killing of its chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi. Governor Kalraj Mishra spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone and summoned the state chief secretary, home secretary, police chief and Jaipur police commissioner to review the law and order situation in the state.
The police set up a special investigation team to probe into the killing of the Rajput leader who was shot dead by two men at his house here on Tuesday. In the evening, some leaders of the Rajput community claimed outside the private hospital, where the body of Gogamedi is kept since Tuesday, that the administration has accepted their demands, including a probe by the National Investigation Agency and protection to family and eyewitnesses. They also said now the agitation will end.
However, after sometime, Gogamedi's wife Sheela Shekhawat came out and appealed to people sitting on a dharna not to move from there. She said that till the accused's "encounter" is not done, the community people should not move.
On Facebook, gangster Rohit Godara -- said to be linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang -- has claimed responsibility and said Gogamedi was killed for "backing" his enemies.
Police have identified the two alleged killers as Rohit Rathore from Jaipur and Nitin Fauji from Haryana's Mahendragarh, and announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to their arrest.
Markets remained closed in Jaipur, Kota, Bundi, Ajmer, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar, Baran and some other districts while a mass rally was taken out in Udaipur amid heavy deployment of police.
Police issue advisory
In light of the declaration of a statewide shutdown, Jaipur Police has issued an advisory urging citizens to maintain peace and social harmony and ignore any rumors or fake news. They emphasised the importance of not spreading misinformation and assured that strict action would be taken against any false news. Additionally, the police officers have been instructed to maintain vigilance in their respective areas, enforce effective checkpoints at state and district borders and key locations, and keep riot control mechanisms ready. The advisory also includes monitoring social media for the prompt removal of objectionable and misleading posts. Ensuring legal action against anti-social elements is crucial to upholding law and order during the anticipated shutdown.
Crossfire and casualties
Gogamedi's security guard retaliated, leading to a crossfire. One attacker succumbed to the confrontation, initially reported as a result of Gogamedi's security but later revealed to be a deliberate act by his accomplices.
Political fallout
The BJP, victorious in the recent elections, accuses the Congress of orchestrating a revenge plan following their defeat. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala shares a video where Gogamedi claims a security threat, alleging Congress CM Ashok Gehlot reduced his security.
Karni Sena's statewide protest
Karni Sena responded with a call for a Rajasthan bandh on Wednesday, protesting the murder and demanding justice. Supporters threaten a statewide shutdown unless swift action is taken. On December 3, as election results unfolded, Gogamedi attributed the Congress's loss to the BJP's disregard for Karni Sena.
Leaders condemn and state in limbo
Prominent figures, including Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Vasundhara Raje, and Rajyavardhan Rathore, denounce the killing. Congress's Supriya Shrinate labels it the 'return of jungle raj,' coinciding with the BJP's assumption of power. Amid the chaos, the BJP refrains from announcing a chief ministerial candidate, maintaining that the state remains under the caretaker government controlled by the Congress.
Also read | Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi murder: Karni Sena calls for 'Rajasthan bandh' today, demands stringent action
