Shiv Sena leader’s brother murdered in Batala

Tribune News Service

Batala, February 25

Mukesh Nayyar (32), brother of Punjab Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) vice-president Ramesh Nayyar, was stabbed to death early Tuesday morning.

The incident triggered angry reaction from Hindu leaders who claimed that the members of their community were being openly targeted even as IG (Border range) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar ruled out any communal angle.

“It’s an impulsive murder and a crime committed on the spur of the moment. Mukesh had absolutely no link with any Hindu outfit. He was a vegetable trader and had left his Bhandari mohalla home to go to the vegetable market at 4 am. Around 5 am, his servant informed the family that he had not reached the market following which a search was launched. His body was found at 6 am, barely 50 m away from his home. Prima facie it appeared that he was robbed after which his neck was slit open with sharp-edged weapons,” the IG said.

Parmar said the crime should not be sensationalised. “As it happens in communal murders, one or the other organisation takes responsibility. In this case, nobody has come forward till now,” he added.

Ramesh said Shiv Sena leaders were not feeling safe and policemen were complicating things by not doing anything to allay theirfears. His call for Batala Bandh, however, evoked a mixed response. Shopkeepers downed their shutters but commercial establishments remained open.

Minutes after the deceased’s body wasfound, an alert was sounded by the police.

Batala SSP Opinderjit Singh Ghuman corroborated the IG’s version by saying that “prima facie it appears to be a robbery-cum-murder case”.

Mukesh was carrying Rs 1.5 lakh in cash and was also wearing a silver chain and a gold ring. The assailants took away the cash and but did not take the ornaments. “I have formed four teams to crack the case. Investigations are still on. An FIR has been registered at the city police station against unknown persons,” the SSP added.

Meanwhile, the Gurdaspur police also swung into action and intensified the checking of vehicles on the national highway leading to Batala.

SSP Swarandeep Singh said the security of Hindu leaders was being strengthened. “We’ve established half a dozen check-posts in and around the city. Security at the bus stand and railway station has been beefed up.”

Meanwhile, Harvinder Soni, vice-president of the Punjab Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray), who has been provided 20 guards by the Gurdaspur police, said the security of Hindu leaders should be enhanced.