SONIPAT: A seemingly trivial dispute over rainwater splashing from a car allegedly turned fatal in Haryana’s Sonipat district on Sunday evening, when a retired district forest officer (DFO) was reportedly attacked with a stone and killed during a roadside altercation in Gannaur.The deceased has been identified as 60-year-old Jaipal Rathi, a resident of Bhogipur village. Rathi had retired from the post of district forest officer around two years ago.Following his retirement, he was running a farmhouse and nursery on the Gannaur-Panipat Road.According to Gannaur police station in-charge Beer Singh, a youth identified as Ravi, who resides on Agwanpur Road, was walking along the road when the incident occurred.Heavy rain had left several stretches of the road waterlogged.Police said Rathi was travelling in his car towards Gannaur for some work when water from the road allegedly splashed onto Ravi as the vehicle passed by. This reportedly led to an argument between the two.The altercation allegedly escalated when Ravi picked up a stone and struck Rathi on the head.Passers-by tried to intervene and assist the injured man, but Rathi succumbed to his injuries.Following the alleged assault, Ravi reportedly attempted to flee the spot. However, people present in the area managed to apprehend him and informed the police.The suspect was subsequently handed over to the police and taken into custody for questioning.Police took possession of the deceased’s body and sent it to hospital. Investigators are questioning the accused to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the sequence of events leading to the fatal assault.Based on a complaint filed by Rathi’s son Manjeet, Gannaur police registered a murder case against Ravi.Police said the investigation is underway and officers are examining all aspects of the case.Officials said further legal action would be taken on the basis of evidence and other facts emerging during the investigation.Rathi is survived by his two sons.After retiring from the forest department, he had settled into a quieter life managing his farmhouse and nursery on the Gannaur-Panipat Road.
