Sunni Muslims of north Gujarat’s Bhilavan in Patan Taluka were on streets and throwing stones exactly like Kashmiri anti-nationals on Monday night.

Rioting groups of Sunni Muslims wearing Islamic caps and beard injured seven cops including one Police Sub Inspector. Police did all possible to control them, including using of lathicharge, teargas shells and 16 rounds of fire in air. Extra police force was called at the village to control the situation. The rioting mobs were openly challenging the court verdict and law of the land. They were throwing stones in favor of four local Muslims convicted for brutal murder. Relatives of brutally murdered Hindu animal right activist were on their target.

The story starts from 14 months back. Ramesh Ambalal Prajapati was a sincere animal right activist who was active in rescuing cows and calves from the hands of butchers. Prajapati was very active in preventing illegal bovine trafficking. One night, as many as five Muslims killed him using sharp weapon brutally, when he was sleeping outside his house in the village.

After receiving complaint from late Ramesh Prajapati’s brother Chamanbhai in this connection, the Vagadod Police of Patan district arrested five local Muslims responsible for murder. On the other side, Chamanbhai and his wife Savitaben had to leave Bhilavan village due to threats from local Muslims. They settled in Patan town, the district headquarter.

After 14 months of trial, Patan court yesterday gave verdict awarding life imprisonment to all four guilty for murder of Ramesh Prajapati. Those jailed for life are Shoeb Yusuf Bhorania(44), Hamid Bapudi Madhia(35), Arshad Ahmad Sheth)25) and Umar Adam Bhagat(35).

Rameshbhai’s brother Chamankumar and his wife Savitaben had decided that whenever Justice is awarded to them, they would go to Goddess temple in their own village Bhilavan to offer religious flag there. Chamanbhai has stopped shaving his beard and Savitaben had decided to remain barefooted until they get justice for Rameshbhai’s murder, and they offer thanks to Mataji in village temple by offering religious flag.

Aprehanding possible attack on Chamanbhai and Savitaben by local fanatic Sunni Muslims, the police party decided to accompany Chamankumar and his wife to Bhilavan village to protect them.

As soon as they reached Chehar Mataji’s Mandir in Bhilavan, the Muslims started pelting stones and tried their best to kill Chamanbhai and Savitaben yesterday evening. The Muslims damaged one Police vehicle and five private vehicles.

According to DySP V.V.Rathod, Police had to fire ten rounds from revolver and six rounds of 303 rifle in air to control the rioting Muslims. Four out of total seven policemen injured were shifted to Patan for further treatment.

Police has started identifying the attackers and stone pelters through video footage. Charges are filed against 19 rioters. They are: Yusuf Daud Jagrana, Mohammad Gulab Arodia, Mohammad Rasul Arodia, Charoliya Yunus Suleman, Kifayatullah Dawood Khoradjia(Morli), Aamin Suleman Modhia, Rafik Dawood Bhorania, Maulvi Mohammad Hussain Rasul(Sheth), Sharif Dawood Khorajia(Aalif Maulvi), Ashraf Yusuf Bhorania, Charolia Sarfaraz Mohammad Taher, Charolia Ayub Suleiman, Madhia Aamin Ibrahim, Bhorania Ashraf Yusuf, Khatki Hanif Dawood, Maknojiya Abubakr Suleiman, Muman(Bhorania) Mohammad Islamil, Ayub Suleiman, Khorajia Amin Dawood. The rioters had kept veiled ladies on the front side of the mobs, who initiated the stone pelting.