Slain gangster Rocky was liquor baron Doda’s aide

Praful Chander Nagpal & Raj Sadosh

Fazilka/Abohar, April 30

Gangster-turned-politician Jaswinder Singh Rocky (39) who was gunned down near Timber Trail in Himachal Pradesh today was an alleged associate of SAD leader and liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda, an accused in the Abohar Dalit Bhim Tank’s murder case.

Rocky had reportedly supported SAD-BJP candidate Sher Singh Ghubaya from Ferozepur in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Sources said Rocky accompanied Doda to an election rally held in support of Ghubaya at Ghas Mandi in Fazilka. He had announced support to Ghubaya, but said fight against the BJP would continue, they said.

Rocky and Doda had contested the 2012 Assembly elections as independent candidates from Fazilka and Abohar, respectively. Both were reportedly supported by SAD activists and breakaway groups of the BJP. They also coordinated with each other in the election campaign, the sources said.

Rocky got 39,209 votes against 40,901 polled by BJP candidate Surjit Jyani. None of the ruling alliance worker who supported Rocky or Doda was sacked, the sources said, adding that this pointed out the alleged support they enjoyed from senior leaders.

Rocky parted ways with Doda last year over some dispute and even extended support to the stir launched against the liquor baron and his henchmen following the barbaric killing of Dalit youth Bhim Tank at Doda’s Ramsara village-based farmhouse on December 11.

Rocky was escorted by six gunmen in an SUV when he visited Abohar to participate in the protest march against the Dodas.

The slain gangster was in the eye of the storm in 2013 when he reportedly tried to purchase a shop in Sadar Bazar here by allegedly forcing its tenant to vacate the shop. The town had observed a bandh, which was supported by legislator Sunil Jakhar. The deal was finally cancelled.

Rocky’s killing has caused ripples in the political circles in Fazilka even as most politicians refrained from making any comment. The incident has once again exposed the gangster-politican nexus.

Rocky had a sizeable vote bank particularly in the Rai Sikh-dominated border villages. Rocky was facing about 30 cases of murder, extortion, kidnapping, conspiracy, illegal confinement and illegal weapons in several parts of the country. His father Mohinder Singh Jhugianwala was allegedly shot dead by Rocky's younger brother Roman about six years ago.

Dabbled in politics

• Jaswinder Singh Bhullar, alias Rocky, unsuccessfully contested the elections as an Independent from Fazilka in 2012
• He gave a close fight to BJP candidate Surjit Kumar Jyani, now Health Minister, polling 39,209 votes against Jyani's 40,901
• During the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, he backed SAD candidate Sher Singh Ghubaya from Ferozepur
• Rocky was released from jail in 2009 and was brought to his hometown in a huge cavalcade
• Earlier with the Prabhjinder Singh ‘Dimpy’ gang, he was booked for the gangster's murder in a shootout near the Chandigarh Lake Club in 2006; he was acquitted in 2014
• In March last year, the Faridkot police had arrested him in connection with an arms smuggling case and was out on bail
•  Rocky had a huge fan following in Fazilka, Muktsar; he was reportedly close to UP gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari
• He was facing about 30 cases of murder, extortion, kidnapping, conspiracy, illegal confinement and illegal weapons registered in several parts of the country

— Archit Watts