Lady constable on duty assaulted in Gujarat

A woman constable was allegedly assaulted by another woman over a land dispute in Bopal on Friday. The accused, who was arrested by Sarkhej police, allegedly tore the uniform of the lady constable. The constable was on duty as part of a police bandobast.

According to police sources, the matter concerns an old land (survey no-254, 246) dispute for which the Gujarat high court had issued a stay order. A police bandobast has also been made on the same to maintain the status quo.

Sources said that many people are claiming the land as its price has gone up considerably.

Sources said a team of police including a woman constable Mumtaz Abdulbhai had gone to the site near Bopalgam as part of a bandobast at 11 am. When the team began removing encroachment, the accused Preeti Manilal Patel, a resident of Jawahar Kunj, Ashram Road, reportedly assaulted Mumtaz. The Sarkhej police immediately arrested Preeti. PSI GR Chauhan is conducting an investigation. According to sources, land mafia is involved in the case and they are trying to get hold of the land.

"When the land was sold for the first time years ago, the price was around Rs35 lakh, however, today it costs more than Rs10 crore. So now, many people are laying claim to it. Preeti is one of them. The others being a builder and a private finance company," said a source, close to the deal.