Students union president murdered by local liquor mafia in Bhadra

Ajeet Singh Beniwal, president of Maharaja Agrasen College students union, was murdered in broad daylight on Tuesday at the local bus stand in Bhadra in Hanumangarh district, on the state’s border with Haryana. 22-year-old Beniwal, was allegedly attacked by the local liquor mafia against whom he constantly raised his voice.

On Tuesday afternoon, Beniwal, who was also a member of Students Federation of India, was heading to his college in Bhadra from his village Khachwana, and when he reached the local bus stand at around 1.30 pm, assailants stopped his bike and attacked him in full public glare. Beniwal was rushed to the nearest government hospital, that refered him to a bigger hospital in Hisar due to his critical state. In Hisar, Beniwal succumbed to his injuries.

Locals said that there is a deeply-rooted liquor mafia in the area and large scale smuggling takes place across the Haryana border. Beniwal’s aides said that he actively opposed the liquor mafia in his village.

Raghuveer Verma, district general secretary of the Communist Party of India, told the Indian Express, “There has been a long-standing issue with the liquor mafia and anyone who raises their voice against them, is silenced. Beniwal was an active students union leader and was a vocal critic of the liquor mafia.”

Protesting students of the union and Communist Party workers blocked roads and agitated against the killing, seeking an inquiry into the case and strict action against the culprits.

The Hanumangarh police arrested three persons in connection with the case and rounded up seven others for interrogation.

Source:: Indian Express