Mahapanchayat demands Rs 1-cr aid, job for Rohit’s family

A Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat held here on Saturday demanded that the state government provide financial assistance of Rs 1 crore and a government job to the family of national bodybuilder Rohit Dhankhar, stating that he was the only son of his widowed mother and his murder had left his family devastated.

The mahapanchayat, attended by representatives of various khaps from Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, took three other decisions after deliberations over the case. An 11-member committee was formed to act as a bridge between the government, administration, panchayat, and community until justice was delivered to Rohit.

Rohit was brutally assaulted in Bhiwani while returning to Rohtak after attending a wedding last month. He succumbed to his injuries at the PGIMS here.

The mahapanchayat leaders said three accused had been arrested in the case, but the main accused were at large, raising questions about policing. They said if all accused were not arrested by December 16, the khaps would meet the administration to demand the transfer of the case from Bhiwani to another district to ensure a fair investigation. The committee would also meet CM Nayab Singh Saini, and if no concrete action was taken, they would mobilise people.