Nafe Singh Rathee, President of INLD Haryana Killed: Who Was He? | Political News – Business Standard
The 70-year-old former MLA from Bahadurgarh suffered multiple bullet injuries in the attack. (Photo: X/@Naferathi)
Nafe Singh Rathee, the president of the Haryana unit of the Indian National Lok Dal (INDL), was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Sunday, sparking major political controversy just weeks before the Lok Sabha elections.
Rathee was attacked by assailants while he was traveling in his SUV in Bahadurgarh, near Delhi. Three gunmen hired by the political leader for his security were also injured in the attack.
The incident has become the latest flashpoint between the opposition and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Opposition alleged that law and order had collapsed in Haryana due to the incident.
Who was Nafe Singh Rathee?
The 70-year-old former MLA from Bahadurgarh suffered multiple bullet injuries in the attack and was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead. The police suspect that the gang’s hand Lawrence Bishnoi is behind the murder.
The notable Jat leader was briefly associated with the BJP in 2014. He had switched to the party after being denied a ticket by INDL but was also denied a ticket by the BJP. He fought independently that year and retired from INDL again in 2018.
The two-time MLA (in 1996 and 2005) was also chairman of the Bahadurgarh Municipal Council. In his career, he was also the president of the Indian-style Wrestling Association of India.
How did the attack on Nafe Singh proceed?
The assailants responsible for Rathee’s murder were also traveling in a Hyundai i10 car. They carried out the attack by opening fire on Rathee’s SUV near a railway crossing in Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district of Haryana. An INDL party worker traveling with Rathee was also killed in the incident.
Rathee’s great controversy
The politician was in the news in January last year after he was named as the prime suspect in the suicide of Jagdish Rathee, son of former BJP minister Mange Ram Rathee.
Rathee wrote a letter to the Haryana government regarding threat to life
After the incident, INDL leader Abhay Chautala demanded Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s resignation for failing to provide Rathee with security. Chautala said Rathee had made a threat on his life to Police Home Minister Anil Vij and demanded security but did not get it.
Meanwhile, Vij has ordered an investigation into the matter.
First print: February 26, 2024 | 12:20 pm IST