Amid growing criticism over the law-and-order situation in Haryana, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (June 24, 2025) hailed the killing of a wanted gangster on the Delhi-Haryana border as proof of Chief Minister Nayab Saini’s resolve to combat crime.

Romil Vohra, 20, accused in the recent high-profile murder of a liquor contractor in Shahbad, Kurukshetra, was gunned down in a joint operation by the Haryana and Delhi police. Vohra, who carried a bounty of ₹3 lakh, was wanted in at least nine criminal cases, including the murder of three liquor contractors in Kheri Lakha Singh village last December. During the encounter, two sub-inspectors were also injured in a gun battle with the alleged shooter, according to police.

CM’s warning

The BJP was quick to take credit for the operation. “Chief Minister Shri @NayabSainiBJPji had already warned: Either leave Haryana or quit crime,” the party posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle. Another post, accompanied by a video of the encounter site, stated, “This is Naib’s Haryana, dear”.

The most recent murder, which triggered a spate of political reactions, occurred on June 13 when Shantanu, a liquor contractor from Jhajjar, was shot dead at point-blank range while on the way to Chandigarh. The incident took place after he stopped at a shop in Kurukshetra. Police have arrested 10 suspects in the case.

The killing and subsequent extortion threats have sent shockwaves through the contractor community, leading many to skip the recent auction of liquor shops in the State out of fear. On June 21, another liquor trader, Virender alias Binder, was fatally shot by unidentified assailants outside a vend in Jind. The second incident further emboldened the Opposition to attack the BJP government over what they called a breakdown of law and order.

Opposition criticism

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda criticised the government in a press statement over the weekend. “The government is either directly or indirectly protecting crime,” he said.

Mr. Hooda said that news of murder and robbery now arrives daily from across the State,citing reports of extortion demands, shootings at toll plazas and fertiliser shops, and videos of liquor shop attacks circulating on social media.

Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala blamed the situation on the “failure of the government and the police administration”.

He had alleged that two Deputy Superintendents of Police rank officers and four Inspectors were hand in glove with the criminals, adding that the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police were aware of this, but were silent. 

(With inputs from Samridhi Tewari)