While the victim lies in hospital, accused roam free

Assistant sub-inspector Manusinh, who caught the truck, is lying in Bhavnagar hospital undergoing treatment for multiple fractures and wounds all over his body.

Asked about the police inaction, Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya said, “I have come to know about the incident but it will be premature to comment on it.”

On Friday, the government transferred Dy SP H.S. Rathore, the sub-divisional police officer of Botad, in whose jurisdiction Vallabhipur falls, and a sub-inspector of Vallabhipur police station. Sources said Rathore’s role in the matter was “suspicious”. An officer of the Prohibition Department alleged that Rathore used to “patronise Petha in his illegal dealings”.

While Petha was not available for comment, Rathore alleged that the Prohibition Department was trying to defame the police force and Petha because they had “stopped the officials while trying to collect bribe from local bootleggers”. He said that Petha had gone to the spot only to save the officials from the bootleggers.

Rathore said Petha had been named in the case as part of a conspiracy hatched by Prohibition Minister Fakirbhai Vaghela, who had sent Prohibition Department officials from Gandhinagar for the purpose. Rathore was clearly unhappy over his transfer. “This is the justice done to an honest police officer like me,” he remarked. Fakirbhai could not be reached for comment as he was away in Delhi.

A Prohibition Department officer said ASI Manusinh was heading a party of the Gandhinagar-based Striking Force(I) of the Prohibition Department when he found a truck loaded with liquor, parked near Dhola railway crossing on Valabhipur-Amreili road.

The ASI decided to take the truck to Vallabhipur police station. While the two constables piloted the vehicle in a Maruti Gypsy, Manusinh sat next to the driver in the truck. They hadn’t gone far when a group of people arrived in Tata Sumos, intercepted the truck, and started beating up Manusinh. Among those alleged to be sitting in the Tata Sumos were Petha Ahir, Dholanath Ahir, Rajendrasinh Mandali and Devendrasinh Mandali.

Outnumbered, the constables in the Maruti Gypsy sped towards the the Vallabhipur police station for help, while the assailants dumped Manusinh into one of their vehicles and drove away. Later, he was found seriously injured on the Amreli-Vallabhipur road.