Rajasthan is in turmoil phrase over the death of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, the leader of a faction of the Karni Sena. A 12-hour shutdown (Bandh) has been called in the state on Wednesday to protest Gogamedi’s murder and demand punishment for the accused. Basically Gogamedi’s supporters called for this ban.
Who was Sukhdev Singh ?
Sukhdev was known as the leader of the moderate faction of the Rajput Karni Sena. In 2018, he became known in controversy over Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Padmaavat’.
Even, Bhansali was attacked by supporters of Karni Sena during the shooting. At that time,Rajput leaders Sukhdev and Yogendra Singh Katar protested the violent movement in Lokendra. They formed a new organization ‘Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena’.
The attack on Sukhdev is considered “significant” within 48 hours of the BJP taking power after defeating the Congress in the Rajasthan assembly polls. Incidentally, in August this year another top leader of Rajput Karni Sena, Bhanwar Singh, was also targeted by miscreants.
He considered Maharana Pratap as his icon and often referred to his quotes. He contested the 2013 elections on a BSP ticket. He came third by getting about 18 percent of the total votes.
Subsequently, Gogamedi was made the head of Sri Rajput Kalvi Sena (SRKS) led by Lokendra Kalvi but due to differences between the two, Kalvi expelled him.
Gogamedi sought a Congress ticket from Bhadra for the recently concluded Rajasthan Assembly elections. But his request was rejected by the party. In his last post on ‘X’, he said the Congress had lost its face in Rajasthan due to “wrong ticket distribution” and “ignoring” the Karni Sena. Over the years, Gogamedi has faced several cases including murder, rape.
How did Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi get murdered?
According to the police, Sukhdev was at an acquaintance’s house near his own house around 1:45 pm on December 5.
Suddenly 4 miscreants appeared on the spot on a scooter. In the CCTV footage, shots were fired one after another targeting the Karni Sena President after entering the house.
Sukhdev Singh’s aide and his security guard were also shot that day. 17 rounds were fired at Gogamedi. In this condition, he was admitted to the hospital but doctors declared Gogamedi dead within a few minutes. A CCTV footage of the murder has surfaced. There, two miscreants are seen shooting at Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi and his guard.
Gogamedi has been ‘Punished’, says his murderer
Meanwhile, the gang of gangster Goldie Brar and gangster Rohit Godara, who is close to Lawrence Bishnoi( a terrible gangster), has accepted the responsibility of killing the Karani Sena leader. He announced this by posting it on social media.
It has also informed that Gogamedi has been ‘punished’ for helping the enemy. Along with that, he threatened the “enemies” that they would be eliminated soon. The investigation into the assailant has started.
Meanwhile, on his death, wife Sheela said, “I was told (before marriage) that his background was not good. But I only saw him doing good to people. He helped the poor by providing a roof over their heads. He married poor girls. He has done everything for the backward people; I am proud of him.”
Political controversy
The death of Karni Sena’s chief, Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, has created a storm in political circles. Condemning the incident, BJP leader Rajendra Singh Rathore called it “unfortunate.”.
Criticizing the Congress-ruled Rajasthan government for the prevailing law and order situation in the state, opposition leader Rathore said that the incident has left a “spot” on the outgoing Rajasthan government.
He further said, ‘A national-level social worker who sought protection from the police but did not get it. Miscreants entered his house and shot him dead. This has left a mark on the outgoing government of Rajasthan.”
A newly elected MLA from Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal and BJP leader Balmukund Acharya blamed the outgoing Ashok Gehlot government for the incident. He said, “Ashok Gehlot is responsible for this incident. “Mafia Raj” is growing in the state under this government.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said that this scene of the beginning of the BJP government is unfortunate.”I strongly condemn it. But if this marks the beginning of a BJP government, what will happen next?”
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the killing of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi was very sad. Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Bashundhara Raje said the incident was highly condemnable and unfortunate.”
Terrible ‘Bandh’ following Gogamedi’s ‘unfortunate’ murder
Karni Sena members and supporters protested on the streets of Jaipur after the news of the murder. Protests were also held outside the Metro Mass Hospital. Protests were also shown blocking the way to Mansarovar. There are also allegations of forced closure of many shops.
The killing sparked protests in several parts of the state, including Jaipur, Udaipur, Alwar, and Jodhpur districts. Protesters blocked highways and were seen setting vehicles on fire. An alleged video also showed members of the Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena stopping a train at Bhilwara.
Gogamedi supporters called Jaipur Bandh and gathered in the Khatipura area in the morning, from where they moved to other parts of the city, asking the shopkeepers to close their shops.
Lokendra Singh Kalvi said on Thursday, “Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi demanded security. The administration also had some letters and evidence that something like this could happen to him. There is a big question mark as to why he was not given security.”
Private schools in Kota were closed in the wake of the protests. The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) has stopped plying of buses on many highways due to closures and jams on the state’s highways.
Five trains were stopped by protesters on Bhilwara and Jaipur routes.
Gogamedi’s wife Sheela Shekhawat came out and appealed to the people sitting on the dharna not to move out.
Police actions
The ban was subsequently suspended with the help of the police.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arranged security cover for Gogamedi’s family members. Director General of Police Umesh Mishra constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe Sukhdev Gogamedi’s murder.
The police have given a written assurance to arrest the accused within 72 hours.
It has been informed that the body will be post-mortem. The body was shifted from the private hospital to the SMS Government Hospital.
The last rites will be performed at Gogamedi village in Hanumangarh on Thursday.
Police have identified the two accused murderers as Rohit Rathore of Jaipur and Nitin Fauji of Mahendragarh in Haryana, and a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh has been announced for information leading to their arrest.
Rathore wrote to Shah
Governor Kalraj Mishra spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in this regard. He has called the state chief secretary, home secretary, police chief, and Jaipur police commissioner to discuss the incident. He urged them to maintain law and order in the country.
BJP leader Rajendra Rathore told reporters that he is writing to the Union Home Minister for an NIA probe .
The support of the citizens of Rajasthan will go a step further if the BJP government takes initiative in this regard.
