Haryana Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) president Nafe Singh Rathee was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Jhajjar on Sunday evening. Jaikishan, one of Rathee’s associates who were travelling with him was also killed in the attack, while two others are critically injured.

Rathee and his associates were reportedly travelling in an SUV when the gunmen, also in a car, open fire and fled the scene.

All the four men, including the INLD Haryana chief, were rushed to the nearby Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital where doctors declared two of them brought dead.

Dr Manish Sharma, Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital, said that Rathee and Jaikishan were shot in the neck, back and shoulder. The two other associates, who are admitted to the ICU, were had gunshot wounds on the shoulder, thigh, and left side of the chest.

“In the evening, four people who had been shot were brought to Brahma Shakti Sanjeevani Hospital. Out of them, two had suffered heavy bleeding and were brought dead, still, we tried CPR but they couldn’t be saved. Former MLA Nafe Singh and another person Jaikishan were brought dead. They were shot in the neck, back, and shoulder. Multiple wounds suggest there were multiple rounds of fire… Sudden major vessel damage causes heavy blood loss and eventually, heart attack…,” the doctor said.

Reacting to the incident, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said that he has ordered the officials to take immediate action and investigate the incident.

“…I have asked the officials to take immediate action in this matter. STF has also swung into action…The incident is being investigated,” Vij said.

Meanwhile, INLD general secretary Abhay Singh Chautala claimed that Rathee had recently demanded security but was not given the same. He held the Manoharlal Khattar-led BJP government equally guilty in his assassination.

“Indian National Lok Dal Party state president and former MLA Nafe Singh ji is no more. The entire INLD family is shocked by the cowardly attack on him, Nafe Singh ji was not only a part of our party but also a part of our family, he was like my brother. Nafe Singh ji had recently demanded security for the CM, Home Minister, DGP and Commissioner, fearing an attack on him. At that time the government played politics and did not provide security. Is the government not equally guilty in this?” he said.