Vejalpur police on Friday arrested a man who threatened to set himself ablaze in his fight to free his land.
If this wouldn't have been painfully real, this story is almost a remake of Bollywood potboiler Khosla ka Ghosla where the protagonist sees his land being encroached upon and fights hard to get it back. However, sadly, here the protagonist Pratap
Thakore, the owner of a plot of land has been waging a battle against illegal construction going on in his land without his permission. However, Thakore is yet to get justice — his land.
So disheartened was he at the authorities’ lackadaisical attitude that he finally wanted to get justice through fire — by self immolation — but it only added to his overflowing cup of woes. He only got himself arrested by Vejalpur police on Friday for his threat.
"It all got over within two months. The land which I bought by saving every penny has been encroached by another," said Thakore, 52. A resident of Vejalpur, Thakore had bought the land in the same area in 2006 with a dream of building his own house.
"But I did not realise that somebody had encroached upon my land and constructed row houses on the plot. It was when my friends asked me why I sold off my land, that I realized that something is wrong. I immediately rushed to the spot only to find that it was already been under construction," he shared.
Thakore further said that he had complained to various bodies including Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Vejalpur police station, Vejalpur ward office and also met several officials — but to no avail.
Talking about the myriad hoops he jumped through, he said, "When I met the AMC officials, they refused to listen and told me its a police matter. When I approached Vejalpur police officials, they refused to lodge an FIR and told me that the complaint may be false. Since two months I have been running from pillar to post pleading to various officials to help me. Where should I go?" he asks.
So frustrated is he with the whole situation that he wants to end his life. "In these two months, I have become so frustrated that I have written to officials that if I'm denied justice, I will immolate myself. My land, my savings are all gone," he said.
Vejalpur police inspector JH Jalu said that he arrested Thakore after the latter declared his intentions of committing in writing. Jalu said that besides suicide being a criminal offence the action was also taken in order to save Thakore's life.
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