PP under fire for saffron hue

Shaikh alleged that many BJP heavyweights like Radhanpur BJP MLA Shankar Chaudhary, former president of Radhanpur municipal borough Pravin Thakkar, president of Radhanpur municipal borough Prakash Kumar Thakkar and member of the district BJP medical cell Dr Jyotindra Raval were involved in the case.

‘‘In these circumstances, the State Government will do all in its power to protect the accused. We also have reason to believe that the present PP will not co-operate with the complainant and also not conduct proceedings in the case in a judicious manner,’’ Shaikh’s application says.

However, public prosecutor M.D. Pandya said: ‘‘I am not in any way affiliated with the BJP. These are allegations and I have made a written declaration in the court.’’

In the Radhanpur riot case, two youths, Ghulam Jilani and Ghulam Nabi, were allegedly shot at by Radhanpur BJP MLA Shankar Choudhary who had led a mob to a Muslim locality in the township.

The youths later succumbed to their injuries. However, an FIR said they were killed in police firing.

Shaikh, uncle of Ghulam Jilani, had approached the court, alleging the two were killed by bullets fired by Shankar Choudhary. The court had in 2004 directed the police to register Shaikh’s complaint and investigate, but even after eight months little has been done.

Two years ago, complainants in Sardarpura massacre case of Mehsana had raised a similar objection before the Gujarat High Court, alleging that PP Dilip Trivedi was a VHP man.

Following this, the state had hastily replaced him.