CBI files chargesheet against 24 for 2017 Sanwarad violence

JAIPUR: In the high-profile case related to violence and rioting in Sanwarad area of Nagaur district, following the encounter of gangster Anandpal Singh, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against 24 accused in the court of ACJM, CBI cases, Jodhpur.
The persons named in the chargesheet included Rajput and Ravana Rajput leaders from various outfits including Lokendra Singh Kalvi of Shree Rajput Karni Sena, Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi of Shree Rastriya Rajput Karni Sena, Giriraj Singh Lotwada of Shree Rajput Sabha Bhawan Jaipur, Mahipal Singh Makrana of Shree Rajput Karni Sena, Ranjit Singh Mangla, Ranjit Singh Gendia, Ranvir Singh Guda and Durg Singh.
The slain gangster’s daughter Charanjit Singh Kanwar, A P Singh and Seema Raghuvanshi, who allegedly organised the assembly at Sanwarad too have been chargesheeted.
Other leaders of Rajput outfits named as accused include Hanuman Singh Khangta, Yogender Singh Katar, Okendra Rana, Mahaveer Singh, Pratap Singh Ranawat, Prem Singh Banswara, Bhanwar Singh Reta, Dilip Singh, Jabbar Singh, Mohan Singh Hathoj, Yunus Ali, Rajender Singh Gudha and Ghanshyam Singh Tyod.
Following the request of the Rajasthan government and the subsequent notification from the Union government, the CBI registered a case on January 2, 2018, and took over the probe from the Jaswantgarh Nagaur police of Rajasthan. It was alleged that after the encounter with police on June 24, 2017, Anandpal Singh died and his body was not cremated and instead a Shraddhanjali Sabha (condolence meeting) was organised at Sanwarad village, the native village of the deceased, for pressurising the government to accept their demands.
It was further alleged that one of the 24 accused invited people to visit Sanwarad, where a large crowd gathered on July 12, 2017. The complaint further stated that the said accused and his supporters came to the police control room at Sanwarad Tiraha and threatened the administration to accept their ‘illegal’ demands.
A large number of people allegedly came to the stage and gave hate speeches to instigate the crowd. It was further alleged that the instigated crowd pelted stones on police vehicles in which police personnel suffered injuries. Some of the police personnel were allegedly held captive in a house and the crowd snatched their arms, including .9 mm service pistols, cartridges etc, mobile phones and other items.
It was also alleged that the unruly mob attacked the vehicle of Nagaur SP, causing injuries to police personnel and burnt his official vehicle. After an investigation in the matter by the CBI, a chargesheet was filed.
With the help of his accomplices, who opened fire on the vehicle carrying him, Anandpal managed to escape while he was being taken from Nagaur court to Ajmer on September 3, 2015. Anandpal had hatched the conspiracy of his escape when he was an inmate at the high security jail of Ajmer. Police claimed the SOG had information that Anandpal was hiding in Churu. According to police, Anandpal opened fire on the cops and was killed in the encounter.
His encounter triggered a strong protest from Rajputs and Ravana Rajputs who demanded a CBI probe into the encounter case. The community members gathered at Sanwarad village and the situation went out of control as locals resorted to violence and several community leaders were booked in different cases.