Gujarat: Two arrested for ‘threatening’ tribal leader in Tapi

The Dev Birsa Munda Sena protested outside Tapi District Collector’s office on November 19 at Vyara, and attempted to burn an effigy of Kokni after he participated and gave a speech at the community meeting organised by Faith Fellowship Church at Chikhalvav village of Tapi.

Nearly a month after the demonstration, Jignesh Gamit filed a complaint at the Songadh police station on Monday that a group of people came to his house on Friday night. The complaint reads: “The accused tried to break the door but failed and after half an hour, they left. Ten minutes later, Jignesh received a WhatsApp call on his mobile phone in which the caller said — ‘Why are you giving memorandums against religious meetings organised in the district and spreading fake messages on different WhatsApp groups?’.”

Acting on Jignesh’s complaint, Songadh police on Monday evening lodged a case and booked two people who were allegedly part of the group — Rajesh Gamit and Rakesh Gamit. They have been booked under BNS sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 351(1) (criminal intimidation),and 54 (if a person who would be considered an abettor (someone who encourages a crime) is physically present when the crime is committed).

The two were also arrested on Monday and released on bail on Tuesday. As per a rough estimate, about 170 villages come under the jurisdiction of the Songadh police station, and each village has multiple prayer halls and churches. The leaders of the Christian community say that over 80 percent of the population in Songadh taluka is Christian.

Speaking with The Indian Express, Songadh police inspector K D Mandora said, “We have registered an offence based on the statements of Jignesh Gamit and have arrested two men in this connection. We are also trying to identify others who went to his house.”

Meanwhile, expressing concern over the possibility of an untoward incident, the Samast Christi Samaj, Bharat, leaders of Tapi, had on December 12 handed a memorandum to Tapi District Collector, requesting to give permission to Christian community members to celebrate the religious festivals between December 24 and January 1.

Samast Christi Samaj chief of Tapi district, Haresh Gamit said, “We want that the celebrations of our festivals pass on peacefully and no untoward incident could take place. In the memorandum, we have mentioned that we will follow all the rules and regulations. We wanted to spread communal harmony and peace in the district.”

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