The Tribune, February 8, 2005

Father of district Congress chief killed
Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, February 7
An 82–year-old man, Ishwar Dutt, was brutally killed in his shop by unidentified assailants yesterday. The body was found by his younger son this morning. The police suspects the involvement of the notorious Bawaria gang which might have entered the shop to commit a theft. The adjacent furniture shop was also burgled.

Ishwar Dutt was father of the District Congress President, Mr Raj Kumar Tyagi. Dutt was hit several times on head by a wooden baton, which was found lying near the body. Mr Tyagi has not raised his finger towards anybody as the family had no ‘known’ enemies. Mr Tyagi had resigned from his post after being denied a ticket form the Yamunanagar Assembly seat and had filed his nomination papers as an Independent candidate. However, he had withdrawn his candidature after being persuaded by senior Congress leaders. Mr Pawan Tyagi, younger son of Ishwar Dutt, found the body lying on the blood-smeared bed when he reached the shop to give the morning tea to his father.

The blood was splattered all over the bed, floor and even on walls. From the body’s position (with quilt over the body and head on a pillow) it seems that attackers did not even give a chance to Ishwar Dutt to even turn his head. Though Ishwar Dutt’s house is nearby he used to sleep in the provision store ever since it was set up.

Last night he had left for the shop at 10.30 pm. Senior police officials, including the SP and two DSPs, reached the spot. It is suspected that burglars entered Dutt’s shop through the rear door after committing theft in the furniture shop. However, burglars did not find anything worth their interest in Dutt’s shop. They had stolen Rs 5,000 from the furniture shop. According to the SP, Mr Rajinder Singh, the circumstantial evidence points toward the involvement of the Bawaria gang. The gang is notorious for attacking any person they come across while committing the theft. The dog squad failed to provide any clue as it had rained the entire night. A case under Section 460 of the IPC has been registered.