During interrogation, police found that Ajay is posted in the 12th Battalion of the RAC in Delhi. (File photo)
Advertisement
A jawan posted with the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) allegedly shot a labour inspector dead in Jaipur early Tuesday morning. The incident took place when the victim, Shankar Lal Balai (40), was out for a morning walk.
According to the police, the accused, Ajay Kataria (32), a relative of Shankar Lal, had an argument with him around 6.30 am. Eyewitnesses told police that during the altercation, Ajay allegedly pulled out a weapon and shot Shankar seven times before fleeing in a car.
You’ve Read Your Free Stories For Now
Sign up and keep reading more stories that matter to you.
Shankar’s neighbours and family members rushed out after hearing the gunshots and found him lying on the ground.
Additional DCP (West) Aalok Singhal said, “The accused is a resident of Phulera and had a family dispute with Shankar. Ajay thought that Shankar was the reason his fiancée broke off their engagement. After shooting Shankar, Ajay surrendered at Phulera police station along with his rifle.”
Police are now investigating how Ajay acquired the firearm and whether it was issued to him as part of his duty.
Shankar was posted as a labour inspector in Jaipur. He got married in 2018 and had two sons, aged 11 months and four years.
During interrogation, police found that Ajay is posted in the 12th Battalion of the RAC in Delhi. He travelled to Jaipur by bus, reaching Sindhi Camp early Tuesday morning, before booking a cab around 5.30 am to go to Shankar Lal’s home in Vatika.
Story continues below this ad
Sources from the police said Ajay brought an SLR rifle concealed in a bag. He allegedly assembled the weapon inside the moving car before confronting Shankar.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
