A 45-year-old convict lodged at the Sanganer Open Jail in Jaipur was shot dead on Wednesday evening, 12 August, while returning to the facility after a home visit — prompting Rajasthan Leader of Opposition (LoP) Tika Ram Jully to sharply question the state government over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state capital.

How the Attack Unfolded

The deceased has been identified as Gangasahay Kumawat, 45, a resident of Dhabas. He was riding a motorcycle through the Janaki Vihar area under Karni Vihar police station limits when two masked men on a motorcycle allegedly intercepted him and opened fire. According to investigators, the assailants fired three rounds, one of which struck Kumawat in the head. He died at the spot.

Jaipur West Deputy Commissioner of Police Prashant Kiran confirmed that the attackers fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Police teams from Karni Vihar, Bhankrota, and Chitrakoot police stations responded after local residents alerted authorities. A large crowd gathered at the site as officers collected forensic evidence.

Background: The 2018 Murder Conviction

Kumawat was serving a jail sentence in connection with a 2018 murder case. According to a complaint filed by Dharmendra Gurjar of Shastri Nagar on 25 April 2018, his elder brother Mahendra Gurjar — a history-sheeter from the Moti Dungri area — had gone to a property in Ekta Nagar, Dhabas on 23 April 2018 and was subsequently attacked by Kumawat during an argument. Mahendra died following the assault. Kumawat, who reportedly owned Balaji Electricals, was convicted in the case and placed at Sanganer Open Jail. On the day of the attack, he had been permitted to visit his home in Dhabas and was on his way back to the facility when he was killed.

Political Fallout: LoP Targets State Government

Rajasthan LoP Tika Ram Jully swiftly condemned the incident, calling Jaipur a capital 'under the shadow of fear and terror.' He noted that two masked men had shot a man in broad daylight and fired three rounds in the heart of the city.

'The gunfire from brazen criminals in the capital signals that the writ of the law has eroded and the safety of the common people is left to the mercy of God,' Jully said. He directly challenged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, asking: 'For how long must Rajasthan continue to live under the shadow of fear?'

Investigation and What Comes Next

Police are currently probing whether the killing was connected to the earlier 2018 murder case or arose from a separate dispute. Multiple investigation teams are working to identify and trace the two attackers. Investigators are also examining evidence recovered from the crime scene and pursuing available leads to reconstruct the sequence of events and establish motive. The case raises pointed questions about the security protocols governing open-jail inmates who are permitted periodic home visits — a framework that critics argue requires urgent review.