Police arrests Santokben Jadeja in rape, murder case

Junagadh, June 9 (UNI) The Junagadh police today arrested ''Godmother'' Santokben Jadeja for her alleged involvement in harbouring the two prime accused of the infamous Junagadh rape case of May 13.

Police arrested Santokben this evening for allegedly providing shelter to two prime accused, who had killed a 17-year-old girl and raped another one at Datar shrine on the outskirts of the city on May 13.

Earlier, the police had registered a case against Santokben Jadeja.

Police Inspector Subhash Rawal told UNI that Santokben was brought to Junagadh last night from Rajkot for questioning as she had given shelter to the two prime accused-Mohan Hamir and Ramesh alias Bhadu.

The police questioned her on the basis of the confession of Savita, the sister of prime accused Mohan Hamir, he said.

Savita was detained by the police recently in connection with the murder and rape incident. In her confession to the police, Savita said she went to Rajkot on May 16 after she received a telephone call from her brother Mohan. From there, she accompanied Mohan and Ramesh and went to Santokben's bunglow 'Shravan' on Kalavad road area here.

Savita said her brother and the other accused had confessed before Jadeja that they had committed the crime and wanted shelter as police were on their trail and they feared for their safety.

The rape case became a major political issue, with Congress leaders demanding Chief Minister Narendra Modi's resignation. A minister from Saurashtra, belonging to Koli community, was also threatened, who handed over his resignation papers to the people of his community.

The Koli community, with the Congress, staged agitation over the ghastly incident after government and police failed to nab the accused.

Prime accused Mohan has links with Kandhal, the elder son of 'Godmother', as they became friends in 1997 when they were both in jail.

Savita said both the accused were sent to some unknown destination by Santokben, has a lot of clout in Saurashtra region, particularly in Porbandar. A film 'Godmother' has also been made on her life starring Shabana Azmi in the title role.

Santokben Jadeja, who is a former member of Kutiyana Legislative Assembly, was earlier arrested last August in connection with the murder of a BJP councillor from Porbandar in March 2005.

UNI