Thaindian News

Rohtak, Feb 24 (IANS) A leader of Haryana’s opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) who was staging a sit-in for the past one month to protest against the state government’s land acquisition policy was gunned down by four men here Thursday, police said. One of the assailants was chased and shot dead by the police, while the rest have been arrested.According to the police, the deceased was identified as Manoj Sindhu, former sarpanch of Khedi Saadh village here and vice president of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti that was carrying out the anti-land acquisition campaign.

Police said that Sindhu, who was also the district president of the rural wing of INLD, was staging a sit-in at the entrance of the Modern Industrial Township (MIT) on National Highway-10 here when he was attacked.

“Four assailants attacked Sindhu today. We started chasing them and intercepted their car near Pakasma village, which is around five km away. During the encounter, one of them was killed while other three sustained bullet injuries,” Inspector General of Police (Rohtak) V. Kamaraja said.

“The injured have been admitted at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) here. The men were earlier sitting at the protest site and one of them fired at Sindhu from close range,” he added.

Following the shooting, residents of Khedi Saadh village blocked the national highway and also damaged a Haryana Roadway bus here. Scores of INLD workers also gathered to protest against the police.

“From the preliminary investigation, we suspect that some personal animosity is behind this incident. Our investigation is under process,” said Kamaraja.