5 cops injured as protest over gangster’s encounter turns violent in Rajasthan

Yash Goyal

Jaipur, July 12

A ‘condolence meet’ organised by Rajput community over the encounter of gangster Anandpal Singh at his native village in Nagaur district turned violent on Wednesday, leaving five policemen injured and an SP’s vehicle being smashed. 

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Two of the injured cops were rushed to a government hospital. The situation was tense when the reports last came in as thousands of protesters had blocked road and rail traffic on Nagaur-Churu section passing through Sanvarda village, the native village of the slain gangster, Additional Director General of Police NRK Reddy told The Tribune here.

"Police did not open fire on protesters though mild force was used to disperse the mob. Reports of firing from the protesters' side cannot be confirmed right now as internet connectivity remains suspended. The miscreants also attacked the Nagaur SP’s vehicle. A detailed report is still awaited,” he added.

Earlier in the day, over 25,000 people of Rajput community, including Rawna Rajput, held a 'condolence meet' amid unprecedented police presence with a sole demand of a CBI probe into the encounter.  They claimed it to be a fake encounter that was and plotted at Sanvarda village. Anandpal’s body is lying in a freezer for the last 19 days.

At least 10,000 people were still staying in tents erected for the "shrandhali sabha".  A mob pelted the security staff with stones and indulged in violence, a senior official at the police headquarters here said.

The Rajput community claimed that over one lakh people not only from Rajasthan but also from adjoining Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana have attended the condolence meeting. 

As internet was suspended, the police headquarters was unable to gauge the exact situation till night, he added.

Meanwhile, DGP (Jail) Ajit Singh is holding negotiations with the Rajput community leaders, who are representing Karni Sena, Rajput Sabha and Rawna Rajput, to resolve the crisis and improve the law and order situation, Reddy said.

Anandpal's native village has virtually turned into a fortress with nine companies of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary and 2,500 armed cops deployed to maintain law and order.

Internet connectivity in four districts, including Nagaur and Churu, has been suspended. Drones were used to monitor the situation and record today’s proceedings.

The prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were imposed a week ago in the village and adjoining towns. People and vehicles entering the village were checked at 16 barricaded points. 

Last night, six roadways buses parked at Kuchaman in Nagaur district were set on fire by unknown protesters, the police said on today.

The protesters came in an SUV and fled after torching the vehicles near the bus stand. No one was injured in the fire. Two of the six buses were partially saved by fire tenders. 

Meanwhile, during the meeting Anandpal's mother Nirmal Kanwar and his daughters told reporters that they would cremate Anandpal’s body only on the advice of protesting members of the Rajput community. 

Rajput Sabha president Giriraj Singh Lotwarda said the protest would continue till the state government agrees to CBI probe. The state government was unnecessarily adamant and not listening to the aggrieved family, he added. 

Fugitive Anandpal was killed in an exchange of fire with police at Malasar on June 24. A post-mortem was held at Ratangarh hospital on June 24 and another one on June 30 on court orders. Since then the members of the Rajput community have been holding protests demanding a CBI probe into the “fake encounter”.