Rajula MLA's car attacked in Amreli

23-07-2012
Rajula MLA's car attacked in Amreli
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Rajula-MLAs-car-attacked-in-Amreli/articleshow/15099489.cms

Rajula BJP MLA Hira Solanki has come under scanner for insisting on watching a captured lion at Mota Barman village in Khambha taluka of Amreli district on Saturday afternoon, which resulted in his men allegedly beating up a villager and the latter's associates attacking the legislator's car in retaliation.

Forest department officials had on Saturday captured the lion, which had killed 55-year-old Bhikha Parmar on July 18 at Nageshree village, from the outskirts of Lunsapur village. "The captured lion was being brought to Nageshree village before being sent to Sasan Gir. Meanwhile, a large number of people started following the tractor, which was pulling the trolley with the caged lion," officials said. The forest department took out a procession from Nageshree village just to show the people there that they have nothing to worry now as the lion has been captured. The tractor then headed towards Mota Barman village to avoid people. It was then decided to shift the lion to Sasan Gir in a forest department's vehicle.

"At Mota Barman village, three vehicles of Rajula MLA Hira Solanki came. Solanki was accompanied by his family members and men. He insisted on watching the captured lion. He rushed close to the lion but I stopped him and his family members as it would have been harassment of the lion. However, they thrashed me,'' said Ajay Vala, a resident of Nageshree village.

"Hira Solanki and his men thrashed me. They also threatened to kill me. I was injured in the scuffle. When I went to file a police complaint, police did not name Hira Solanki in the FIR. This despite the fact that he had taken out his revolver to threaten me," Vala alleged.

Cross complaints were filed at Khambha police station. Investigating officer K H Sandh of Khambha police station said, "Hira Solanki was trying to resolve the ongoing scuffle between Vala and his (Solanki's) men. Vala's allegation about Solanki is not true," said Sandh.

Vala had filed a complaint against Hira Solanki's son-in-law Chetan Shiyal, Jitu Makwana, Manoj Shiyal and his six private commandos. Manish Shiyal (brother of Solanki's son-in-law) had filed a complaint against Ajay Vala and seven others for attacking the legislator's family members. During the scuffle, Solanki's car was ransacked by the people.

When contacted, Solanki denied the allegations levelled against him. "I and my family members were going towards Khambha when our car was intercepted by these people. They ransacked our car and also attacked my family. I had not gone to watch the lion," he told TOI.