Man who killed RTI activist's kin held

Times of India: Rajkot: Monday, 01 February 2016.

Almost a month after blind RTI activist Ratna Ala's uncle was shot dead in Rangpar village, all seven accused are now in police custody. On Friday, Wankaner police got the custody of Mahavirsinh alias Lalo Chandubhai Jadeja, who had allegedly fired at Ala's 55-year-old uncle Karsan Ala. He surrendered in the local court.

Karsan was shot dead on January 2 when he and his son Kala had objected to illegal mining in Rangpar village. K B Jadeja, police sub-inspector, Wankaner taluka, told TOI that Mahavirsinh was a resident of Bhagwatipara in Rajkot and is a history-sheeter. An accomplice of notorious criminal Paresh Dangar, Mahavirsinh has at least five offences registered against him in various police stations of Rajkot city.

A court sent him to five-day police remand after getting his custody from the court. However, Mahavirsinh told investigators that he was unaware about the reason for the dispute between the victim and Rangpar sarpanch Bharat Makwana and others. "On January 2, Karsan and his son Kala attacked Makwana. During the scuffle, I fired from my revolver," he reportedly told the police during questioning.

Police have also recovered the country-made revolver that Mahavirsinh used in the crime. Besides Mahavirsinh, police also nabbed accused Hitesh Ahir and Nirmal Ahir, both of whom are residents of Rangpar village, from Rajkot.

Earlier this month, police had arrested Rangpar sarpanch Makwana, Suresh Sarvaiya, Rambhai Vadher and Nirmal Makwana, who were all allegedly involved in the crime.