Deesa: A wave of intense anger and grief has swept across the business community and residents of Deesa following the sudden death of trader Mukeshbhai Thakkar. Thakkar, a firecracker vendor, reportedly died of a sudden chest pain after alleged harassment by a group of self-proclaimed journalists demanding extortion money.

Following Thakkar’s death on Friday, traders gathered at the Civil Hospital on Saturday morning and held a rally. The rally proceeded from the Civil Hospital to the Deesa South Police Station. The protesting groups, including merchant associations and the Thakkar community (Raghuvanshi Samaj), held accused journalist Dilip Trivedi responsible for the death and demanded his immediate detention along with strict legal action against all those involved.

Led by members of the Raghuvanshi Samaj, the protesters refused to accept the body of Mukesh Thakkar, stating that they would sit on a dharna at the police station until the police guaranteed immediate arrests and decisive action against the culprits.

Subsequently, an FIR was registered which states that a group of individuals identifying themselves as journalists allegedly demanded ₹25,000 as “weekly protection money” from the owners of Kanaiya Season Store, located opposite the Khadia area in the Vohra Building. The shop partners had obtained a temporary licence to sell firecrackers during the Diwali season.

The complainant, Nileshkumar Bhaghchand Gurani, stated that on the morning of October 17, two men—identified as Dilip Trivedi and Parsh Maharaj—arrived at the shop and demanded the money, threatening that if the amount was not paid, they would publish negative reports in their newspaper to “defame and harass” the owners. Under pressure, Mukesh Thakkar allegedly handed over ₹10,000 in cash on the spot, promising to pay the remaining amount after a traders’ association meeting.

Later that night, around 10:15 pm, the same duo allegedly returned with four other individuals—identified as Tapan Jaiswal, Mehul Khatri, Rohit Thakor, and Hitesh Rajput—and again demanded the remaining ₹15,000. The complainant also alleged that Mehul Khatri had forcibly taken ₹10,000 online a few days earlier.

The situation escalated when Dilip Trivedi allegedly began filming the shop’s firecracker stock on his phone and hurled abuses. During the heated argument, Trivedi is accused of punching Mukesh Thakkar in the chest. Soon after the assault, Mukesh complained of severe chest pain. He was rushed to Civil Hospital, Deesa, where doctors declared him dead.

The incident sparked outrage among local traders, several of whom came forward alleging similar extortion attempts by the same group. They claimed the accused regularly demanded money from shopkeepers during the festive season.

Police have registered a case based on the complaint and initiated a probe into the alleged extortion and assault. The six accused “journalists” have been booked under Sections 308(2), 115(2), 296(b), and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. Mobile recordings of the accused demanding money, said to be saved on Mukesh’s phone, have also been submitted by the complainant.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the local business community, with traders demanding strict action against those involved. DeshGujarat