Dhanera: Police today finally formally arrested a local leader of BJP youth wing (BJYM) in connection with the yesterday’s attack on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi’s car near here during his trip to this part of flood hit Banaskantha district of Gujarat.

With this the around 18 hour long Dharna of congress led by its former state president Arjun Modhwadiya in the police station premises here ended today. Modhwadiya had accompanied Rahul during his visit and was also present during the single throw stone attack which broke the rear window pane of the private vehicle he was traveling in while going to the local airport from Lal Chowk.

Police said that Rahul Darji, alias Anil Rathod, (Banaskantha district secretary of BJYM ), the main culprit who had hurled the stone and was detained soon after the incident has been formally arrested today after the initial investigation and FSL inquiry. He has been booked under section 332 of the IPC regarding attack. The investigation regarding the three other names given by the Congress in its complaint today would be done.

The police however has refused to include section 307 (attempt to murder) and section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) in the FIR.

Modhwadiya said that the police has assured of action against the three other accused Modsinh Rao president BJP Yuva Morcha Dhanera city, Thacker Mukesh Director Gujarat state Krishi Bazar Board and brother of VP Dhanera Municipality and Patel Bhagvandad Chairman APMC & President BJP Kishan Morcha Dist. Banaskantha after detailed investigation.

He claimed that had the police not nabbed Darji on the spot, he would have been severely beaten up by the crowd. The former state Congress president said that they decided to end their Dharna after formal arrest of the main culprit and assurance of the police and also owing to the instruction by Rahul Gandhi to the party to focus on the flood relief work rather than raking up the issue.

Notably, a SPG guard had sustained minor injury in the incident of stone pelting. CM Vijay Rupani has ordered the high level probe of the matter by an ADGP rank official. Rahul had to face stiff opposition and sloganeering at several points during his brief visit.

DeshGujarat