AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava on run while wife and PA arrested; Supporters give strike call in Dediyapada

Bharuch: Controversial legislator of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Chaitar Vasava is on the run after the forest department staffers filed a complaint against him at a local police station. His wife, his personal assistant, and one more accused are held by Police in this case.  According to police, the first-time MLA fired a round in the air and beat up forest employees. His personal assistant and one of two wives also joined him in this. The accused MLA issued a death threat and also assaulted the forest department staffers. Chaitar is a hardliner who wants to change the map of Gujarat as he openly demands a separate state called Bhil Pradesh or Bhilstan for the tribal community. He was in the news recently for supporting the Chritistian religious conversion of tribal people. Chaitar was previously with the Chhotubhai Vasava-led Bharatiya Tribal Party(BTP), known for its many controversial stands. Chaitar’s supporters have declared a strike call in Dediyapada in support of him and in protest against the case filed against him. The case and the latest controversy is related to encroachment in forest land by a local for farming purpose. Forest department staffers had filed a complaint against Chaitar and others on 2nd November.

The Forest Department removed encroachment in forest land near Bogaj village of Dediapada taluka in Fulsar range on 29 October. Chaitar had called the beat guard and other staffers of the forest department at his home on the 30th of October evening. He had allegedly beaten up the forest staffers. He had asked to repay the loss to enchrocher. He had fired a round in the air and issued a death threat. According to Narmada district police chief Prashant Sumbe, Chaitar’s Personal Assistant Jitendrabhai also asked forest staffers to repay the loss that occurred to enchrocher. Among the three persons arrested are Chaitar’s wife Shakuntala Vasava, enchrocher Ramesh Vasava, and PA Jitendra Vasava. Rioting, arms act, attack on govt employees are among the allegations the accused are facing. Local BJP MP Mansukh Vasava said that four years ago Chaitar who was not MLA had attacked a power company staffer with an axe. Later three years ago he had entered into a fight with a police inspector over an issue pertaining to a passenger vehicle. After he became MLA, he reached power company’s office and used abusive language when the light was off after the cyclone. DeshGujarat