An Army officer's father and younger brother were killed allegedly by a gangster as they had not voted for accused's brother in Haryana's Sonipat district with the family alleging that the police failed to act on time despite life threats to the victims.
Major Sushil Chikkara's father Jagbir Singh (57) and younger brother Anil (25) were on May 12 shot dead allegedly by gangster Ajay alias Kannu Chhikara near Karewari village when the duo was travelling on a bike, Rohtak Range IG, Sanjay Kumar said today.
"We are trying to apprehend Ajay and we have also announced a reward of Rs five lakh for information leading to his arrest," Kumar told PTI over phone.
The family has alleged the two were killed because they had not voted for the gangster's brother Sanjay Chhikara who was contesting for the Sarpanch's post and had lost, Sonipat's DSP Mukesh Kumar told reporters today.
The Army officer, who is upset with the Sonipat Police, alleged that their "indifferent attitude" had cost his father and brother their lives.
Maj Sushil said the accused had planned the murders.
"My father was facing life threat from the goon. I rang up DSP Sonipat, Bharti Dabas. A day before the double murder, Dabas came to our village where locals told her that my father was facing life threat, but she did not care to visit our house and ask if we needed any security," he said.
"I had personally conveyed the information to the SP that our family is under threat, but no one cared," the Major said.
"Had police acted on time, I am 100 per cent sure that both would have been alive today," he said.
"Our duty is in far flung areas, on borders. But if our family members are not safe, then how can we defend our country. This should be taken very seriously," Maj Sushil told reporters today.
The Major claimed that prior to killing his father and brother, the accused had attacked two others in the village, out of which one has died while other is battling for life.
Another relative of the victims, Capt Rashika Sharda said the family had written to the president and the Haryana governor on the issue as despite pleading with Sonipat Police, they had failed to give protection to the victims.
"They failed to protect our family," she said.
"I lost my father and younger brother, our lives have been destroyed," he said.
The Major said they had named the main accused and his four accomplices in the complaint on the basis of which FIR was lodged.
On the allegations that Sonipat Police did not act on time, the Rohtak Range IG said, "If this is found true, we will take action. But I can assure one thing that police is doing its job and we will catch the culprit sooon".
Meanwhile, Satpal Chikkara, brother of victim Jagbir, said "our village is in a state of terror. The accused has shot four people, while three are dead one is battling for life. We need security. Haryana government is doing nothing. The accused is roaming near the village, but police has failed to catch him."