BJP MLA Chaudhary held for assaulting Congress leader

Ahmedabad, Oct 22 (UNI) Patan police today arrested local sitting ruling BJP MLA Shankar Chaudhary in connection with his alleged attack on a local Congress leader and three others at a hotel in Radhanpur town of the district on September 25.

According to police sources, Mr Chaudhary, along with his supporters, assaulted Congress leader Ankur Joshi, a social worker Usmanbhai, a reporter Ramesh Acharya and editor M K Sayeed of a local daily, while they were sitting in a room at Hotel Janpath in Radhanpr town on September 25.

Mr Chaudhary and his men allegedly beat these four people with hockey sticks and fired few bullets at them with his private revolver. In the incident, all the four sustained fractures and were treated at a local and Mehsana Civil Hospital.

The assault was the fallout of a political rivalry between Mr Chaudhary and Mr Joshi. The BJP MLA was today called by police at the Chansama police station, where he was later arrested.

Mr Chaudhary, known to be close to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, is also accused of firing during the post-Godhra riots case in his locality. Two years ago, he caused a flutter inside the Gujarat Legislative Assembly when he walked inside the House with his licensed firearm to show the lack of adequate security.

UNI