RTI activist, friend allege attack by former BJP MP

Times of India: Rajkot: Thursday, 05 March 2015.

Former BJP MP from Junagadh, Dinu Solanki, an accused in the murder of Right to Information (RTI) activist Amit Jethva, is in trouble again. This time, for allegedly attacking two persons in Kodinar town of Gir-Somnath district on Tuesday. Solanki was not available for comments.

Babudi alias Chandrasinh Dodiya and RTI activist Mahesh Makwana have alleged that they were beaten up by Solanki on the issue of a contract to run the fish market in Kodinar.

"I was going on my bike on Tuesday at around 11am when Solanki stopped me near his office and started a fight. Later on, he beat me. My friend Babudi intervened and Solanki thrashed him as well," Makwana told TOI over phone from Kodinar. Babudi and Makwana were hospitalized in Kodinar.

Sources said there were some tense moments in the area of the coastal town where the scuffle took place. "We have recently won the contract for fish market at the highest bid of Rs 35 lakh. This had been a monopoly of Solanki and his men over the last many years. They didn't like this. Therefore, they thras-hed us," Makwana alleged.

"The situation is under control in the town and we have placed adequate police bandobast in the area where the incident occurred. There was some scuffle between Solanki and Makwana. But exact details would emerge once we take detailed statements from both sides," said inspector A B Nagori of Kodinar police station.