Tension in Bikaner after man stabbed to death

BIKANER: Traffic came to a standstill for about five hours on Saturday due to road-block by relatives and supporters of Ismail Khan, who was brutally killed. The protesters were demanding immediate arrest of Tejuram, Tolaram, Chhailu Singh and Bhagirath who allegedly killed Khan in a reported act of revenge.A few days ago, Khan had a fight with Tejaram and Chhailu Singh on an issue relating to a molestation case of a woman of their Shobhasar family. Khan's family members claimed that he was killed by Tejaram and Chhailu Singh along with their two accomplices as an act of revenge for opposing the molestation.Late on Friday evening when Khan was returning home in an auto-rickshaw, the accused came after him in a taxi. When they reached BSTC College, the taxi overtook the autorickshaw and Khan was forcefully pulled out by five to six persons. However, Khan broke away from them and started to run. The culprits caught up with him again and stabbed him several times with sharp knives. Later, they fled in the taxi leaving Khan in a pool of blood.Khan died on the spot. On being informed, Bichhwal police station SHO Ashok Vishnoi and other officers rushed to the spot and issued a message to all police check-posts to stop the taxi.The accused have so far managed to stay out of the police dragnet. During Saturday's protest, the roads were blocked by burning tyres and stones at PBM hospital road, Museum Circle,Gogagate, Pugal road areas here. Parts of NH-11 and NH-15 were also blocked.Meanwhile, family members of Khan initially refused to take his body till all the accused are arrested. But after the intervention of senior police and district administration officials, the body was handed over to the family members for funeral. SP Rakesh Saxena and other police officers rushed to PBM hospital where the body of Ismail Khan was kept in its mortuary after postmortem. Zila pramukh Rameshwar Dudi, UIT chairman Maksood Ahmed and other local political leaders were also there to pacify the protesters.Various rounds of talks have taken place between the family members, senior members of minority community, political leaders and police, administrative officers for maintaining peace and harmony in the area.The aggrieved family members alleged that due to inactiveness of police, all the accused are still roaming freely. State home minister Virendra Beniwal has also instructed police to arrest the culprits immediately and take action on the case in a speedy manner. Beniwal personally contacted SP Rakesh Saxena and took details about the case.