Villagers clash with gangster's kin, over a dozen injured

Gurgaon, July 13 (IANS) Over a dozen people were injured following a clash between villagers and relatives of a jailed gangster here in Haryana.

Police have booked the gangster's brother, mother and 45 others for the violence that happened late Saturday night.

Over a dozen people, including Sikanderpur sarpanch (village head) Virender Singh, were injured in the clash between gangster Rakesh Yadav's brother Mukesh Kumar and others.

Rakesh's family members from Hayatpur village and their supporters from various places in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh had reached Sikanderpur village to take "possession" of a plot.

"They forced Virender alias Billu and his mother to vacate the house and stated beating them up," the sarpanch told IANS.

The gangster's family claimed they had purchased the share of property of Billu's brother, who died a few months ago.

The villagers united and confronted Mukesh and his supporters, asking them to show the plot deal papers but they failed to show the documents. Villagers then called the police control room.

Later, in the presence of police, the clash occurred that left at least 14 people injured.

After the free-for-all, four people from the Mukesh camp besides three vehicles, including a car with a "Government of Haryana" written on it, were handed over to the police.

"We have booked Mukesh and 46 others for forcibly entering the house, destroying property, thrashing people and threatening to kill them," police officer Rantej Singh said.

"We will question the four accused once they are discharged from hospital, where they have been admitted for treatment," Rantej said.

A panchayat (community meeting) Sunday in Sikanderpur village, under the leadership of former zila parishad (district council) chief Rao Ahey Singh, decided to meet union Planning Minister Rao Inderjeet Singh Monday over the issue.

Gangster Rakesh has been in Gurgaon's Bhondsi jail for the past few years for killing Hayatpur village sarpanch Rakesh Kumar, the murder grabbing media headlines for a long time.

There are allegations Rakesh has close links with a Congress legislator and a former Haryana minister besides some senior police officers.