Sarpanch in Gujarat murdered over election dispute

The sarpanch of Virpur village in Visavadar taluka of Junagadh district was allegedly murdered by a group from the same village over an election dispute dating back to 2009 even as his younger brother was also injured in the incident on Saturday afternoon.

Hakubhai Vora, the sarpanch of Virpur and his younger brother Bhanu were returning from the nearby Moti Monpari village on a motorbike when they were intercepted by Madhu Fakira and 13 others at around 1:30 pm near the approach road of Khijadia village, local police said. Fakira and his men attacked the two brothers with steel pipes and sticks.

“The sarpanch was rushed to Civil Hospital in Junagadh. But he died at around 4 pm while undergoing treatment in the hospital,” superintendent of police (SP) of Junagadh district, Saurabh Tolumbia told The Indian Express.

Police said that the younger brother of the sarpanch also sustained injuries on his leg in the clash and was admitted the government hospital in Junagadh.

“The sapanch and the alleged assailants had lodged cross complaints under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of Indian Penal Code in 2009 after a fight over elections. That case is on trial now and the two families had a quarrel over this case this morning. The murder is a result of this old dispute,” Tolumbia further said.

The sarpanch and the alleged assailants belong to two different castes but the SP said the situation in the village was peaceful.

“It seems an issue between the two families only. The village is peaceful and situation is under control. We have deployed policemen from neighbouring police stations in the village,” said Tolumbia.

Visavadar police said eight persons had been detained in connection with the incident and that process was on to register a case of murder against them.

Source:: Indian Express