Haryana Congress leader Vikas Chaudhary was shot dead in Faridabad this morning, the party has said, at the time the leader was outside his gym.
The Congress has asked for an investigation by the Haryana government. Police are investigating the matter.
Video footage doing the rounds on social media show two figures coming near an SUV and then shooting in the direction of the vehicle from the front and the back.
The video clip was shared by Ashok Tanwar, the president of the Haryana Congress who said the murder was an example of 'jungle raj' in the state. 'Shocking to witness the brutal murder of our @INCHaryana spokesperson @_Vikaschaudhary today in Faridabad. We r deeply hurt by this gruesome murder and I appeal @cmohry to take strictest action #JusticeforVikasChaudhary,' Tanwar tweeted.
“An FIR has been registered with Faridabad police based on a complaint from Chaudhary’s kin. The victim succumbed to bullet injuries at the civil hospital. Around nine or ten bullets were fired at him today morning. We have started the investigation. Members of the crime branch are already at the spot. CCTV footage is being scanned,” Nitika Gahlaut, the deputy commissioner (headquarters), Faridabad, told this website.
The incident is said to have taken place outside a gym in Sector 9 area of Faridabad around 9.30 am.
The Congress put out a tweet that said: 'We are deeply angered & saddened by this act of grotesque violence against a member of the Congress Party. We urge the Haryana govt. to bring the perpetrators to justice at the earliest. Our sincere condolences to his family in this time of grief.'
Some news outlets have said Chaudhary, the Haryana Congress spokesperson, was shot 8-10 times but a post-mortem report can confirm this.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted on Twitter: “Congress Spokesperson and leader Vikas Chaudhary murder in Faridabad is a condemnable and tragic incident. It reflects the deterioration in law and order situation in Haryana. May Chaudhary’s soul rest in peace and his family gets the strength to cope with this tragedy.”
AICC secretary in-charge of communications, Pranav Jha told this website: “Lawlessness has become order of the day. This month alone apart from numerous incidents two ASI were shot at in Haryana. Criminals are becoming confident because of the inaction in the absence of any concrete steps by the CM (Manohar Lal Khattar) and his government. People should seek accountability from those they elected otherwise innocent would continue to lose life.”
Although so far some news outlets have said that Chaudhary was shot at 8-10 times outside a Faridabad gym, Jha said “let’s wait for the post-mortem report”.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala put out a tweet that said: “The cowardly act against Vikas Chaudhary is extremely condemnable and shameful. I express condolences to his family on behalf of Congress party.”
Surjewala also ctriticised “the atmosphere of crime prevailing in the state under BJP government led by Manohar Lal Khattar”.