On Thursday, 29th August, Rafiq Khan, the Congress leader in the Rajasthan Assembly, faced an alleged assault outside his home in Bani Park, Jaipur, as he was headed for the House following a meeting with visitors. As per the reports, Khan was beaten by a man for allegedly harassing a woman. The attacker initially engaged in a heated argument with Khan after which he grabbed his collar and attempted to slap him.
People in Khan’s home overpowered the attacker, assaulted him, and handed him over to the police. I a video of the incident, several supporters of the Congress MLA can be seen beating the man. After some time the police arrived at the scene and took him into custody.
The apprehended individual has been identified as Vikas Jakhar, a former assistant commandant of the Central Reserve Police Force. He was granted the Shaurya Chakra during his service and is believed to have resigned from the force in 2021.
कांग्रेस विधायक रफीक खान के साथ मारपीट का कोई समर्थन नहीं करता
— Laxmikant bhardwaj (@lkantbhardwaj) August 29, 2024
पर एक शौर्य चक्र विजेता को कांग्रेस के गुंडों द्वारा इस तरीक़े से मारना कहाँ तक उचित है @RahulGandhi ? pic.twitter.com/pYKSBVEhcy
Khan, a two-time Congress MLA from Jaipur’s Adarsh Nagar constituency, claimed that Jakhar punched him in the chest and attempted to suffocate him. “He attacked me all of a sudden when I was about to sit in my car. I held both his hands to protect myself, after which my supporters and people present there took him away,” Khan said.
“I have no knowledge about this man or his background and intention, but only a person with a criminal mindset can do such an act,” he added. Khan defeated Bharatiya Janta Party’s Ravi Nayyar with a margin of 14,073 votes in the 2023 Assembly election.
According to the authorities, Jakhar, 39, of Jhunjhunu district, complained that Khan was harassing his wife and admitted to acting in a “fit of rage”.
It has been reported that Vikas’ wife is a government health worker, and the MLA had harassed his wife and his complaints were not addressed. He was detained on allegations of disturbing the peace.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra criticized the attack on Khan, saying it reflected the state’s deteriorating law and order situation. Probe in the case is underway.
