Bandh observed across Raj over Gogamedi murder

JAIPUR: Street protests and market shutdowns continued across Rajasthan on Wednesday over the murder of Rajput leader and national president of Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena, Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi. Tyres were burnt and roads were blocked in many regions while markets were shuttered in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bundi, Ajmer, Sawai Madhopur, Bhilwara, Kota, and Chittorgarh. Udaipur witnessed a mass rally, along with demonstrations in many areas.

In Jaipur, family members of Gogamedi and a large number of Rajput community members continued their protest outside the private hospital where his body has been kept. Protests were held during the day in Khatipura, Vaishali Nagar, Jhotwara, Kalwar, Sodala, Walled City and Mansarovar areas, from where the protesters fanned out to shut down markets. The majority of markets in Jaipur remained completely shut. Establishments such as schools, petrol pumps, and restaurants were voluntarily closed as the bandh received support from other communities too.

Although the protests were largely peaceful, there were incidents of protesters forcing establishments to close and asking vehicles to keep off roads. As protesters took to the streets in large numbers, commuters in the city faced inconvenience. Kavita Sharma, a private sector employee, said, "There was no public transport and roadways buses had been stopped. People were gathered in large numbers on the roads and auto drivers refued to go to many areas. It was harassment for the public."

In Jodhpur, protesters barged into the railway station, sat on the platforms, and blocked rail traffic for some time. The protesters had assembled at Paota Circle in the morning and from there they headed to different parts of the city in groups to ensure the markets were completely shut.

"We want the execution of Gogamedi's killers, compensation to the family, and adequate security for the family members," said president of Marwar Rajput Sabha, Hanuman Singh Khangta.

In Barmer, agitators were seen breaking police barricades at Ahimsa Circle. A delegation of them submitted a memorandum to the district collector while youth of the community gave a second memorandum to the ASP at Ahimsa Circle.

In Jaisalmer, people gathered at Hanuman Circle in the morning and protested by burning tyres. Karni Sena leaders, including Surendra Singh, emphasized that Gogamedi was the messiah of 36 communities, a person who fought for every caste and religion. Accusing the state government, they said that security was demanded for Gogamedi from the Congress government of Rajasthan for two years but it was not provided.

Ajmer, Pushkar, and Nasirabad witnessed a complete shutdown as different community organizations supported the bandh call. There were no reports of violence or disturbances in the district but the police remained alert at various important places. The bandh was supported by Brahmin, Sarva Samaj, Koli Rajput, and other communities. A Kshatriya youth organization on Tuesday evening gave a memorandum to the district collector demanding the arrest of the accused.

In Pushkar, a group of Rajput community members came out for a rally, shouting slogans and demanding the arrest of the accused.

In Kota, youths of the community in the morning took out a motorbike rally from Rajput hostel in Surajpole that went through various areas of the city, urging traders and shopkeepers to shut down their establishments. A large number of people from the Rajput community, led by community leaders including ex-MP Ijayraj Singh and ex-MLA Bhawani Singh Rajawat, assembled at Circuit House Road in the noon. After an aggressive demonstration, they submitted a memorandum to the district collector demanding a judicial inquiry and an inquiry by the CBI.

Speaking to the media, Ijayraj Singh demanded a thorough investigation into the "conspiracy" behind Gogamedi's murder and pointed out that the Karni Sena chief had anticipated a threat to life and sought government security, but he was ignored. He demanded an investigation into the reasons for this negligence.

Kota district collector MP Meena deputed 8 executive magistrates to maintain law and order during the day while police and RAC jawans were deployed across the city. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the region during the bandh.