Cop's suicide sparks violence in Bhabhar town, 15 tear gas shells lobbed

PALANPUR: Bhabhar town of Banaskantha district in north Gujarat was tense on Thursday after violence broke out during a bandh call given by the Thakor Sena to protest the suicide of head constable, who had alleged threats of bootleggers and politicians.

Heavy stone pelting forced police to lob at least 15 tear gas shells and at least 10 people suffered minor injuries in the violence. Police said that the situation turned ugly when some protestors tried to forcibly shut the shops during the bandh call.

Meanwhile, police have booked all the eight persons who were named in head constable Nagji Thakore’s suicide note and a manhunt has been launched to nab them, said UR Patel, deputy superintendent of police, Tharad division. They have been booked for abetment to suicide and other sections of the IPC.

Neeraj Badgujar, Banaskantha district superintendent of police told TOI that adequate police deployment has been made in wake of the violence and the situation was peaceful later.

Alpesh Thakor, who leads Thakor Sena, told TOI that if the accused are not arrested within two or three days, the outfit will resort to an aggressive agitation. “On Thursday, we burnt the effigies of policemen, bootleggers and the politicians who are responsible for Nagjibhais’s suicide in 10 talukas of Banaskantha. If the accused are not arrested, we will start gheraoing the politicians.”

The constable had named Bhabhar municipality president Vaikunth Thakkar, vice president KV Rathod, former president Harilal Thakkar, police sub-inspector RG Chaudhary, bootleggers Sanjubha Rathod and his accomplice Harpalsinh Rathod in his suicide note. Thakore alleged that he was facing threats to life from them for cracking down on liquor and gambling dens in the town.