E-Paper
Police zero in on Junagadh link in RTI activist death
Police have sent a special team to Junagadh to investigate the murder of rights activist Amit Jethva, who was shot dead by assailants on Tuesday. The police are exploring Junagadh's recurring link in the activist's murder.
Police have sent a special team to Junagadh to investigate the murder of rights activist Amit Jethva, who was shot dead by assailants on Tuesday. The police are exploring Junagadh's recurring link in the activist's murder.
Jethva was fighting against alleged illegal mining in the Gir forest areas of the state, which was said to have the backing of some politicians.
In his public interest litigation, Jethva had mentioned that a Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentarian from Junagadh, Dinu Solanki, and his family members were lending support to these illegal activities.
"A team has left for Junagadh (315 km from Ahmedabad) in connection with Jethva's murder," DCP Brajesh Kumar said.
The police have recovered a bike, a country-made revolver and a bag of clothes, which were left by the assailants at the site of the crime.
"The bag of clothes left by the two at the site of the incident had tags of a Junagadh laundry," Kumar said.
The bike had a fake registration number and was stolen from Dholka in Ahmedabad district, the police said.
"The police are looking into all aspects related to the murder. We have interrogated witnesses and will hopefully get concrete leads soon," Kumar said.
On Wednesday, Jethva's father Bhiku Jethva had alleged that Solanki could be behind his son's killing.
"I strongly suspect that Junagadh MP Dinu Solanki is behind the murder of my son because Solanki had threatened Amit and me several times in the past," Bhiku had said.
A special team has also been sent to Rajkot, around 225 km from here.
