It’s been close to five years since the Popat Bharvad murder took place, but the bloodshed continues. The ‘revenge’ saga claimed two more lives on Thursday, taking the total number of murders to four, when members of Bharvad and Darbar (Rajput) communities clashed in Chuli and Soladi, two villages between Dhrangadhra in Surendranagar and Morbi.
According to Rajkot Range IGP, DN Patel, Darbar community members were going to Dhrangdhra in more than 200 cars to attend the condolence meet of Indrasinh Zala, a former president of Dhrangadhra municipality, who was hacked to death by around 15 men on Friday night.
At Chuli village, some 3km from Halwad, 20-25 Bharvad community members had gathered at a temple to discuss an upcoming festival. Seeing the gathering, Darbar community members stopped at the temple. Soon, there was an argument and a clash erupted. One Ranabhai Bharvad, 50, a resident of Halvad, was killed in firing.
As the news spread, clashes erupted in nearby Soladi village, where a Bharvad community member has reportedly died.
His identity could not be confirmed till the time of going to press.
Besides the loss of life, some 12 persons have been hospitalised with injuries and around 10 cars and 25 two-wheelers were set on fire. Police said Thursday’s clashes erupted after a video of Zala’s condolence meet went viral. Internet services have been suspended in Morbi and Surendranagar till 6 pm on Friday.
A total of 15 companies have been deployed to keep vigil in Surendranagar and Morbi. Three DIGs — DN Patel, Brijeshkumar Jha, and Ajaikumar Chaudhary — have been sent to the districts. Around 35 ST buses with more than 700 passengers are halted at various police stations. The buses will proceed only with police escort, said sources.
Zala was travelling with his family when he was pulled out of a car and murdered. His brother Ajitsinh then filed a police complaint, saying Bharvad’s associates were pursuing a vendetta against Zala.
Dhrangdhra has been on the edge ever since Zala’s murder, with mobs taking to streets outside Gandhi hospital, where his postmortem was conducted. Several parked vehicles near the hospital were torched or vandalised.
Bharvad, a history-sheeter, was allegedly clubbed to death in Dhrangdhra town in September 2012. Zala, his brother Dilipsinh and two others were arrested on the charges of his murder. Zala, an undertrial prisoner, was out on interim bail. His murder came just three days before his bail was to end.
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