Khadia Don's murder: Killers get life

AHMEDABAD: Two persons sustained injuries in Bhadra court campus on Wednesday, when a mob of slain Pradip Don's supporters chased his murderers after the verdict and attacked their relatives. Two of the six accused were sentenced to life imprisonment by the court.
When the Karanj police reached the spot after 30 minutes, they found nobody. The cops then began looking for the injured persons in the VS Hospital and the Civil Hospital.The ruckus took place after additional sessions judge V M Nayak pronounced verdict in the murder case of Pradip Babubhai Kavishvar alias Pradip Don.Don was killed by local youths on July 5, 2009, in Pushpa Karna ni Pol in Khadia. Two youths - Jignesh Soni and Rakesh Pandya, came to Don to apologize for their earlier alleged misbehaviour. After touching his feet, Soni shot Don point blank.
Apart from Soni and Pandya, four others were arrested on charges of conspiracy. They were prosecuted by advocate Dinesh Sharma at first and by V P Atre later. Advocate Sharma said that during the proceedings, there used to be security arrangement in court campus all the time because supporters of Don and relatives of the accused persons remained present in court campus in huge numbers. There used to be constant quarreling among them. After the trial, the court convicted Soni and Pandya and acquitted four others by giving them benefit of doubt.
However, on the day of verdict, there were only five cops with six accused. More than 150 supporters of Don had gathered before the verdict was pronounced. After the verdict, when the accused were brought out of courtroom, Soni issued threats to the mob twice. Enraged mob attacked the accused. The police personnel escorting him tried to keep the mob at bay by brandishing his gun, but failed.
The police ran with the accused towards police van parked at the gate near the district panchayat office. After they got into the vehicle, the mob began pelting stones.
By the time the vehicle was driven away, the mob started targeting the relatives of the accused and two persons were badly injured in the attack. While one was stabbed, the other was hit by stones.