QAhmedabad: Guj BJP Seeks Clean Sweep; Dalit Man Killed in Rajkot

1. Gujarat BJP Looks at a Clean Sweep, Congress Hopeful of 10

As India awaits the verdict on 23 May, it remains to be seen whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state will hand him the sort of massive victory seen in 2014. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the saffron party swept all the 26 seats in Gujarat.

This time too it is hoping for a repeat performance except for a loss of one or two seats.

The Congress meanwhile is hoping to snatch at least eight seats from its rival. Exit polls however do not support the aspirations of the Congress although the party has put up a brave face stating that the results will indeed show it has managed to create a dent.

In all, counting will be held at 28 centres across the state including two in Ahmedabad alone. The state that saw a voter turnout of of 64.11%, the highest since 1967, has some high profile candidates including BJP president Amit Shah who is contesting from Gandhinagar.

(Source: DNA)

Also Read: Exit Polls Suggest BJP Clean Sweep in Gujarat – Are They Right?

2. Five Accused of Social Boycott of Dalits Get Bail

Five persons accused of announcing a social boycott of Dalits in Lhor village of Kadi tehsil in Mehsana district were released on bail recently by a special court in Mehsana. Meanwhile, a convention of Dalits in Lhor on Wednesday, 22 May, decided to host a community meal in the village, to which people from all castes would be invited.

The Dalits of Lhor were allegedly boycotted by local upper castes earlier this month, who objected to a marriage procession in the village where the Dalit groom rode a horse. Police registered an FIR against five persons from the village — Vinuji Thakor, Baldevji Thakor, Bhopaji Thakor, Manu Barot and Gabhaji Thakor. Vinuji is the sarpanch of the village and Baldevji his deputy.

The five moved bail petitions before the sessions court, and a special court presided over by district judge B A Dave recently granted them regular bail.

(Source: The Indian Express)

Also Read: Dalits of Gujarat’s Lhor Gam Only Feel Safe With Police Protection

3. Dalit Youth in Rajkot Killed, Family Refuses to Accept Body

The murder of a Dalit youth in Rajkot has once again brought the Dalits out onto the streets. The youth, identified as Rajesh Sondarva, was allegedly beaten to death by some men of the Darbar community in Manekvada village of Rajkot. Incidentally, Sondarva's father had also been killed a year ago by members of the same community.

Sondarva was attacked late on Tuesday night, (21 May) while he was on his way home from Rajkot. He was rushed to the local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Soon, Dalits joined to protest the incident, leading to traffic snarls in several parts of the city. Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani also joined the protest with the family, refusing to accept the body of the deceased. Dalits also met Rajkot collector and carried out a protest on the office premises.

(Source: DNA)

Also Read: Mob Booked for Stopping Dalit Man’s Wedding Procession in Gujarat

4. Taken to Ahmedabad Hospital With Stab Wound, Man Beaten to Death by Mob

A victim of stab wound was beaten to death inside LG Hospital, in Ahmedabad’s Maninagar area, on Tuesday night (21 May), allegedly the result of a previous street fight involving the victim’s brother.

The deceased, Aamir Yasin Sheikh, 30, was a labourer from Ramol locality of the city and had been taken to the hospital for treatment of his stab wound when he was attacked.

He was under police protection at the time. An FIR has been registered against 25 people for the murder. Two people were arrested on Wednesday, 22 May.

The police said Aamir was attacked at the CT scan section of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-run hospital around 10 pm on Tuesday.

(Source: The Indian Express)

5. Cop, Brother Booked for Abetting Suicide of Bitcoin Trader

A Gujarat police officer and his brother were booked on Wednesday, 22 May, for allegedly abetting suicide of a bitcoin trader here last week, police said.

Narmada district deputy superintendent Chirag Patel and his brother Haresh Savani were booked under sections 306 (Abetment of suicide), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 114 (abettor present when crime committed) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a Ranip police station official said.

The trader, identified as Bharat Patel, had hanged himself from the ceiling at his residence in Ranip on 18 May.

He had left behind a suicide note blaming the police officer and his brother for "threatening" him for the losses incurred by them in the cryptocurrency investment, police had said.

(Source: Business Standard)