Police apprehend 10 people in connection with the murder of a man in Rajasthan, including four forest guards

According to a senior official on Saturday, police are looking into the possible involvement of forest guards in the death of a Muslim man, 27, who was reportedly attacked by a gang of persons on Thursday in Rajasthan’s Kotpulti-Behror area.

According to the police, at least 10 persons, including four forest guards, have been held in relation to the incident that happened at Narol village on Thursday night. The region is part of the Talvrikash forest range of the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the police said.

Waseem (27), a resident of Musari village under Tapukda police station, has been identified as the dead. He passed away while receiving medical attention at a hospital after suffering injuries caused by a sharp item. Asif, his cousin, and Azharuddin, another guy from his town who also suffered minor injuries in the event, were treated at a hospital and then released, according to the police.

“Police are looking into how the forest guards fit into the story. While denying claims of a mob lynching in the case, Kotputli-Behror superintendent of police (SP) Ranjeeta Sharma stated, “It is also being investigated how Waseem was hit with a sharp object.”

“At first glance, it doesn’t seem to be a case of mob lynching. The deceased’s body had no additional wounds than the one produced by the sharp item that ultimately killed him, according to the SP.

The police claim that Waseem traveled to Rampur village with his four helpers to chop down trees and gather wood from around a house with permission from the home’s owner. They were nevertheless forewarned that a group of forest authorities were prowling the area and may fine them if they were found in possession of the timber. Waseem, Asif, and Azharuddin departed in their pick-up van while his two assistants rode a two-wheeler to their hamlet.

When the forest guards saw them departing, they started pursuit. The guards contacted a JCB driver and some nearby villagers to halt the pick-up van after trailing them for roughly 20 to 25 kilometers (km), according to auxiliary superintendent of police (ASP) Jagram Meena.

“Both sides clashed after the guards were intercepted, and Waseem was struck in the chest by a sharp object, while Asif and Azharuddin only sustained minor wounds,” Meena said.

A police crew arrived on the scene right away and transported them to the hospital after obtaining the information. Waseem was sent to Kotputli Hospital, where he passed away from his wounds, the ASP said.

Following the event, Waseem’s family members reported four forest guards and a few other people to the Harsora police station, according to SP Ranjeeta Sharma.

Following the filing of a first information report (FIR) under sections 302 (murder), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing harm), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), and 149 (unlawful assembly), at least 10 people, including four forest guards who were on night duty on Thursday, have been detained for questioning, according to the police.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jaipur Range, Umesh Chandra Dutta said, “A forensic science laboratory (FSL) team has been despatched from Jaipur to Harsora police station boundaries, where the event took place. “The JCB and the suspected forest guards’ vehicle have been taken into custody. The case is still being questioned.

RN Meena, the field director of Sariska Tiger Reserve, said that Rajendra Sharma, the assistant conservator of forests, has taken over the probe into the Harsora tragedy.

He has been instructed to look into the situation right now. Since the four forest guards are all being held by the police, we do not yet have all the information concerning the case. Now, we are unable to interrogate them, the field director remarked. “The event happened when the personnel was on patrol in the Taal Vriksha Forest Range in Sariska, and there were rumors that some persons had felled trees.

Abdul Hai, Waseem’s uncle, said that there were three to four individuals in the JCB and an additional eight people in the vehicle of the forest department. “They hauled them (the deceased and his assistants) out of the car and began beating them. They had sharp weapons and sticks,” Hai informed the media. “Justice should be served, and those accused should receive punishment.”

The event also prompted a political debate in Rajasthan, which will have assembly elections later this year. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the Ashok Gehlot-led administration for the “deteriorating” condition of law and order.

“The state of law and order in Rajasthan has become worse. The administration of CM Ashok Gehlot has absolutely collapsed.In the state, I’ve never seen a government that is so broken. According to Union minister and Barmer MP Kailash Choudhary, criminals are free to traverse the state.

The governing Congress, however, denied the accusations and said that senior police officials were looking into the situation.

Umesh Chandra Dutta, the IG for the Jaipur Range, is personally looking into the situation. According to Tikaram Julie, the state’s minister of social justice, the offenders would not be spared under any circumstances. “Following the investigation, the government will offer any assistance needed.”