Rivalry between newly-elected BJP MP from Junagadh, Dinu Solanki, and defeated Congress candidate, Jashu Barad, came to the fore when the victory procession of Solanki was attacked.
Rivalry between the newly-elected BJP MP from Junagadh, Dinu Solanki, and the defeated Congress candidate, Jashu Barad, came to the fore when the victory procession of Solanki was attacked on Friday. This escalated into a series of violent incidents in the area. Both politicians were considered men with muscle power and people had heaved a sigh of relief after the election had passed off peacefully.
When BJP MP, Kodinar-based Dinu Solanki was going to Sutrapala to address a public meeting as part of victory celebrations, the cars of some of his supporters were attacked at Lodhava village near Sutrapala. A large crowd pelted stones at the cars and damaged them. Some injured persons had to be rushed to Veraval hospital.
The news of the attack, allegedly by Barad's supporters, incensed the supporters of Solanki at his native place Kodinar and a crowd set vehicles like tractors, cars and cycles on fire at the Kodinar marketing yard. Some innocent farmers, who had come to the yard, fell a victim to the rampaging Solanki supporters. Some of those injured were taken to the local hospital whereas others were rushed to Veraval hospital.
Following the rampage, the shop and office owners of Kodinar pulled down shutters.
At Veraval, a mob rushed to Utsav Motors, located on Veraval-Junagadh highway, and shattered glasses of the showroom and damaged scooters there. The mob also injured the owner, Dhirubhai Mori.
In another incident, a crowd reportedly rushed to Jashu Barad's farm located at Talala crossing. After asking the caretaker of the farm and his family to come out, they poured kerosene and set the house on fire.
Keshod, too, could not remain unaffected by the violent incidents. About 18 masked strangers rushed to Sahjanand Petrol Pump, four-km off Keshod, on bikes and got the employees out. They then poured petrol in the office and set it on fire.
District officials have deployed State Reserve Police (SRP) in Kodinar and Sutrapala areas to check any more untoward incident. Solanki's public meetings at Kodinar and Sutrapala were cancelled by officials, sources added.
Veraval ST depot has cancelled all bus services on the Veraval-Sutrapala route via Kodinar.
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