The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday carried out searches at 31 locations in Rajasthan and Haryana in connection with the murder of Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi.
Gogamedi was shot dead by three unidentified gunmen at his residence in Jaipur on December 5. The assailants had first had tea with the Karni Sena chief before opening fire on him. One of the attackers was also killed in retaliatory firing by Gogamedi’s security.
Gangster Rohit Godara, affiliated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, later claimed responsibility for the killing. He stated that Gogamedi was targeted due to his alleged links with their rivals.
Two suspected attackers – Rohit Rathore and Nitin Fauji – were arrested in Chandigarh on December 10 in a joint operation by Rajasthan and Delhi Police.
Reports state that the shooters had gone to Gogamedi’s house along with another person, Naveen Shekhawat. A cash reward of ₹5 lakh was announced for information leading to the arrest of Rathore and Fauji.
In the aftermath, the Rajasthan government demolished an illegally constructed house belonging to accused Rohit Rathore in Jaipur on December 28.
#WATCH | Rajasthan: National Investigation Agency is conducting searches at 31 places in Haryana and Rajasthan in connection with the murder of Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2024
(Visuals from Jaipur) pic.twitter.com/B26MoNFckz
The NIA has now stepped up the probe into the high-profile murder that has links with prominent gangs like Lawrence Bishnoi. The searches aim to gather more evidence and investigate larger conspiracies behind the killing.
Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi headed the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, an organization founded in 2006 to unite Rajput groups. The Karni Sena had led violent protests against the film Padmaavat in 2018, accusing it of distorting Rajput history.
The NIA raids come amidst rising concerns over gangland rivalries spilling onto the streets and high-profile killings in recent years. Authorities are probing inter-state networks and possible terror angles behind such incidents.
