Rajasthan Bandh: Markets Closed, Roads Blocked After Rajput Leaders Killing

Markets were closed and roads were blocked in Jaipur and other parts of Rajasthan as the Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena called for a bandh following the killing of its chief, Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi. The body of Gogamedi was shifted from a private hospital to the SMS government hospital for postmortem.

Jaipur, December 6: Markets across Jaipur and several other districts in Rajasthan remained shut, while protesters blocked roads and halted train services on Wednesday in response to a bandh call issued by the Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena following the assassination of their leader, Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi.

Governor Intervenes

Amid the escalating tension, Governor Kalraj Mishra engaged in a telephonic conversation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and subsequently summoned the state's chief secretary, home secretary, police chief, and Jaipur police commissioner to assess the law and order situation.

Dharna Called Off

The dharna, which had been ongoing outside the private hospital in Jaipur where Gogamedi's body was kept since Tuesday, was called off on Wednesday night after the police assured the family members that the accused would be apprehended within 72 hours. Additionally, the SHO of Shyam Nagar police station and other negligent police officers would be suspended.

Postmortem and Investigation

Gogamedi's body was transferred from the private hospital to the SMS government hospital for postmortem, which is currently underway. Meanwhile, the police have formed a special investigation team to probe the Rajput leader's killing, which occurred when two assailants shot him at his residence on Tuesday.

Gangster Claims Responsibility

On Facebook, gangster Rohit Godara, believed to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the assassination, stating that Gogamedi was targeted for supporting their adversaries. The police have identified the two alleged killers as Rohit Rathore from Jaipur and Nitin Fauji from Haryana's Mahendragarh and have announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to their arrest.

Widespread Protests

Markets remained closed in numerous cities, including Jaipur, Kota, Bundi, Ajmer, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar, Baran, and others, while a massive rally was held in Udaipur amidst heavy police deployment. Incidents of stone-pelting were reported in Jaipur, and some protesters gathered outside the BJP office. Public transport services were disrupted, and traffic snarls were witnessed on major highways due to blockades.

Assurance to the Family

In the evening, Rajput community leaders claimed that the administration had agreed to their demands, including an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and protection for the family and eyewitnesses. However, Gogamedi's wife, Sheela Shekhawat, urged the protesters to remain steadfast until the accused were encountered. Eventually, the family members agreed to call off the dharna after receiving written assurance of the accused's arrest within 72 hours and the suspension of negligent police officers.

FIR Lodged

In the FIR registered by Sheela Shekhawat at Shyam Nagar police station, she asserted that her husband had informed Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the Director General of Police (DGP) through three letters about the threats to his life. She further alleged that the Rajasthan Police had been alerted by the Punjab Police regarding intelligence inputs about a conspiracy to attack Gogamedi, but the DGP deliberately withheld security.

Political Reactions

Former MLA Manoj Nyangli and community leader Radheysham Tanwar announced that the administration had assured an NIA investigation and protection for the family members. BJP leader Rajendra Rathore expressed his intention to write to the Union Home Minister seeking an NIA probe, while Mahipal Singh Makrana, national president of Shri Rajput Karni Sena, demanded the removal of the state police chief for failing to provide security to Gogamedi.

The assassination of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi has sparked widespread outrage and protests across Rajasthan, leading to market closures, transportation disruptions, and heightened tensions. The state government and law enforcement agencies are under immense pressure to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators and restore normalcy in the region.