It was 24 June 2017… 10:25 pm. Malasar village of Churu in Rajasthan echoed with the sound of gunfire. There was an encounter in a house here. The one who was killed in this encounter was none other than the king of the world of crime and famous gangster Anandpal. The same Anandpal on whose one signal more than 100 of his goons were ready to do anything.
Anandpal had more than 24 cases registered against him including robbery, dacoity, gang war, murder and attempt to murder. In eight cases, the court had even declared him a fugitive. His name was so strong in the world of crime that many politicians and officers of Rajasthan were also in danger from him. Gopal Phogawat murder case of Sikar was also carried out by Anandpal. In 2011, there was open firing at Bhojlai crossing in Sujangarh, in which 3 people were injured. Anandpal Singh’s gang had brutally murdered a man named Nanuram. His body was burnt by pouring acid on it.
After this murder, he absconded. The police arrested him in 2012, 6 years after his abscondence. On 3 September 2015, after appearing in Deedwana court, Anandpal Singh was going to Ajmer High Security Jail in a police van. During this time, he escaped by dodging the police near Parbatsar. Anandpal remained a headache for the police even during his abscondence.
Anandpal Singh had several encounters with the police. A policeman Khumaram lost his life near Khinvsar. Many people were injured in the encounter. The police had placed a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head. To put pressure on him, the police-administration had confiscated his benami properties worth more than Rs 150 crore.
Claim of firing on police
In June 2017, the police received information that Anandpal was hiding in a house in Malasar village. The police reached the spot to arrest Anandpal. According to the police, Anandpal had an AK-47 with him. He also had 400 cartridges. Instead of surrendering, Anandpal climbed on the roof and fired at the police with an AK-47.
The police claimed that the house where Anand Pal was hiding was surrounded from all sides and the gangster was asked to surrender several times by making announcements. But he did not listen to the police. He fired about 100 rounds at the police. Some policemen were injured in this. After that the police entered the house. Anand Pal was trying to escape by firing from the back door. During this time, he was killed in retaliatory action by the police. The police fired six rounds at him.
The family called it a murder
But Anandpal Singh’s family and his supporters called it a murder and constantly demanded a CBI inquiry. Anandpal Singh’s last rites were not performed for 18 days after the incident and riots were seen in Anandpal Singh’s village many times. There was also a clash between the people and the police. Two people also lost their lives. Many policemen were also injured. Later on 13 July 2017, the police forcibly performed the last rites of Anandpal Singh. During this time, no member of Anandpal Singh’s family was present. Neither was any villager there.
CBI report challenged
In December 2017, the Rajasthan government handed over the case to the CBI. After investigation, the CBI claimed that it was an encounter. After that, the investigating agency submitted a closure report in the court in August 2019. Anandpal’s wife Raj Kanwar and brother Rupendra Pal Singh challenged this report in the court in May 2023 and described themselves as eyewitnesses.
Anandpal’s wife Raj Kanwar and brother Manjitpal claimed on the basis of evidence presented in the court that the police’s story was fabricated. They claimed that when the police reached Malasar, Anandpal’s brother Rupendrapal alias Vicky talked to him. He was convinced that if he surrenders, the police will not encounter him. On this, the police followed Rupendrapal and entered the house where Anandpal was hiding. Anandpal surrendered to the police in Rupendrapal’s presence.
Gangster Anandpal’s brother Manjitpal claimed that Vidyaprakash, who was part of the encounter team, received a call from someone at that time. Despite surrendering, Anandpal was knocked down and killed. Then Anandpal was shot in the back from about three to five feet away and killed.
Anandpal had surrendered: family
According to Raj Kanwar’s lawyer Bhanwar Singh, after hearing the arguments of both the sides, the court found that Anandpal had surrendered before the police before being killed. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Yuvraj Singh rejected the CBI’s closure report and directed that a criminal case be registered against the then SP Rahul Barhat, then DSP Vidya Prakash, then Inspector Surya Veer Singh, Head Constable Kailash Chandra and Sohan Singh and Constable Dharam Pal, Dharam Veer. Now the special CBI court has given a big verdict and ordered to run a murder case against 7 police officers who carried out the alleged fake encounter.
The court has also rejected the closure report of the Central Investigation Agency and directed that an FIR be registered against the policemen involved in this for murder and other charges. Now a murder case will be filed in this matter. The next hearing will be held in Jodhpur High Court on October 16, 2024. What argument will the police give on this or what will happen next. Only time will tell whether this mystery gets more complicated before being solved.
FIR against which policemen?
The then Churu SP Rahul Barhat, who was involved in the encounter, is currently posted as the Protector of Migrant Workers at Mumbai Airport. Vidya Prakash had received a gallantry promotion at that time. He is currently posted as Additional SP in Jaipur AGF. Suryaveer Singh Rathore is currently posted as Deputy SP in Banswara. After the court’s order, these officers and head constables will have to return the benefits they received from the state government.
