Ahmedabad: Deputy Municipal Commissioner Ramya Bhatt suffered deep injuries today during a drive to remove illegal encroachments.

The incident took place late in the evening on Wednesday when the AMC team was on a drive to remove illegal encroachments near the Civil Hospital in the Asarwa area of the city.

The Deputy Municipal Commissioner was taken to Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) run SVP hospital for treatment. Bhatt is the Deputy Municipal Commissioner of the Central Zone of the city.

Bhatt is considered one of the most efficient and admired officials of AMC.

Chief Minister speaks to Commissioner

Meanwhile, the State Chief Minister has taken a serious note of the entire incident. He spoke with the Municipal Commissioner to gather details about the incident. Consequently, a directive was issued by the CM for stringent measures to be taken against the individuals responsible for the assault. The civic body will also take action against illegal encroachment.

Police complaint filed

According to the complaint, the accused food cart owners came for an attack with steel rods used for non-vegetarian items and issued a death threat. They then hit DyMC Ramya Bhatt causing head injuries and tried to kill him. Five to seven unidentified persons entered into a hand-to-hand fight, tore a shirt, and broke a wristwatch, causing a loss worth Rs. 1300.

A complaint is filed by Sagar Piluchiya who works as Assistant Municipal Commissioner in AMC.  The accused named in FIR are Kanu Keshaji Thakor, Dipaji Keshaji Thakor, Ankit Thakor, Ravi Mohanbhai Rathod, Jagdish Jhala, Chirag Jhala, Vishal Thakor, Naresh Rawat, Sandip Rawat and seven unidentified persons.

The drive against encroachment was being executed as per the High Court order at the Shahibaug Civil Corner traffic chowk area. The accused are from Mahima Fry Centre and Jay Goga Bhajipav Centre. The accused were first asked by Bhatt to take away the food carts. However, they denied it. Later Bhatt asked to seize the carts and put them on the truck, after which the accused started entering to fight. Bhatt tried to rescue the AMC staffers who were under attack by food cart owners and their accomplices. AMC staffer Keyur Patel called the police control room after which a police vehicle arrived there. Seeing the police, the accused left the place. A video of this incident has been captured by one of AMC staffers.

Shahibag police have booked the accused under IPC sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 307, 332, 186, 427 and GPA section 135(1).

Key accused arrested

Police have arrested five accused namely Kanu Thakor, Naresh Rawat, Ankit Thakor, Jagdish Jhala, and Sandip Marathe. The search is on for 11 more accused.

Police say they were not informed ahead of the drive

In another development, Zone-4 DCP of Ahmedabad Police informed the Gujarat High Court and AMC that the anti-encroachment actions of AMC in reference to this incident were executed without informing the local police. VN Yadav, ACP of G division has said that if AMC informs local police prior to execution of such drives, the law and order situation can be maintained.

Top five AMC office bearers visit Bhatt

The City Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Standing Committee Chairman, Municipal Commissioner, and ruling party chief in AMC visited Bhatt who has been hospitalized, and decided to further strengthen the drive against illegal encroachment.

DeshGujarat