Tension between two communities in Jundagadh

Junagadh, Sep 5 (UNI) Tension re-surfaced between two communities -- Ahirs and the Rabaris, here today after a minor incident involving a Police Sub-Inspector of the Ahir community and two youths of the Rabari community was blown out of proportion.

Last evening, PSI Bipin Sonara of Gandhigram police post, who was on duty at the Budhnath temple railway crossing, stopped Laxman Punja Katara, brother of BJP corporator Karman Puja, and Sanjay Dosa Kodiatar for riding a motor bike without number plates. There was a heated argument between them after which, the two youths tried to snatch Sonara's service revolver and began misbehaving with him. The incident sharply polarized the two communities, police said.

Mr Sonara later registered a complaint of misbehaviour and causing obstruction in his duties against the duo. The two in turn filed a robbery complaint against the PSI, saying he tried to snatch Rs 500 and a mobile phone from their pocket.

When the duo was taken to the police chowky, around 2,000 Rabaris gathered outside the chowky where the two youths were detained and started raising slogans against the PSI and demanded his transfer.

The cause of the tension could be traced to the old enmity between the youths and the PSI. Atleast 20 days earlier the duo was caught by PSI Sonara for ferrying liquor bottles. They had then filed a complaint against Mr Sonara, accusing him of beating them so severely that their legs were fractured. They had even got themselves admitted to a hospital.

No sooner that the liquor incident occurred, Junagadh MLA Mashroo too rushed in support of the Rabaris and met the Inspector General of Police and the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) calling for Mr Sonara's transfer.

UNI