Rajkot AAP worker injured after ‘assault’ by four men

Rajapara said that while he was on way to his office of Rajgroup Sarvagnati Sevashakti Trust in Navkar Complex, a few men knocked him down with their bike and others who came in a car assaulted him with sticks and pipes. The incident took place near Ambali Chowk around 8.30 am, he said.

Rajapara was rushed to the community health centre in Vinchhiya from where he was referred to Rajkot civil hospital for further treatment. The social worker alleged that he was assaulted at the behest of a prominent political leader. However, police said that in his complaint, Rajapara has not named any politician but has named Raju Dhandhal, a contractor who got government contract for constructing a bridge in Bhadli village in Jasdan taluka.

“In his complaint, he has stated that he was attacked by Raju Dhandhal and three men in a black car… Rajapara said that he had complained to Rajkot district collector about a bridge being constructed by Dhandhal and alleged encroachment by the latter in a common plot in Jin Dhoro… therefore, Dhandhal and three others assaulted him,” KG Zala, deputy superintendent of police of Gondal division told media persons.

The DySP said that Rajapara has suffered fractures in both legs. Rajapara was a general secretary of Rajkot district unit of Congress before defecting to the AAP in April 2022. Subsequently, AAP appointed him its organisational secretary for Jasdan Assembly constituency.

The assault on Rajapara came a day after he called a public meeting to launch an agitation against what he said was shortage of drinking water and lack of underground drainage network in Vinchhiya on Sunday. However, the public meeting in Vinchhiya could not take place due to a thunderstorm.

“This is certainly a politically-motivated assault as Rajapara has been raising issues of people… and is becoming a popular leader… established political players of Vinchhiya and Jasdan don’t like it,” said Tejas Gajipara, president of AAP’s Rajkot district unit.