Suspended Gujjar MLA's kin arrested in Kota

Kota, June 12: The police has arrested Om Prakash Gunjal, brother-in-law of suspended BJP legislator Prahlad Gunjal, who was apparently punished for his provocative role in the violent Gujjar agitation.

According to police, Om Prakash, a native of Rangbari, has been arrested for his involvement in a land grab case of February 7, 2004 in Lakhwa in Kota district.

According to facts, Om Prakash along with half a dozen people arrived on Kalu Gurjar's land with a JCB machine and started digging it up. When Kalu Gurjar protested, he was attacked with sharp weapons and even shot at. Kalu Gurjar was seriously injured in the incident.

Consequently, a case of attempt to murder under Section 307 was lodged at Vigyan Nagar police station against Om Prakash Gunjal.

The police acted fast and arrested Om Prakash in a raid last night. He was produced in a court today and was sent to 14 days judicial custody.

The move is being seen as an attempt to keep the suspended BJP legislator Prahlad Gunjal from Ramganjmandi, quiet in political circles.

After his suspension, at least 5,000 of his supporters gathered at his residence and pledged support to him and demanded that the suspension be revoked.

Apart from provocative comments, Prahlad was party to the move of keeping Chief Miister Vasundhara Raje out from her constituency in Jhalawar, which was decided at a meeting of Gujjars in Ranpur in Kota district on Saturday.

The meeting also asked Gujjars not to vote for Vasundhara Raje in the next elections in 2008. Prahlad, however, says, he was not party to the move and there was no written resolution to this effect.

UNI