Ex-MLA held for attacking IFS probationers in Gujarat

The police today arrested a former MLA in Gujarat for allegedly attacking a group of probationary officers of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) last month.

Mahipatsinh Jadeja, the former two-term Independent legislator from Gondal in the district, was arrested from his home at Ribda, about 20 km from here, after the probationary officers filed an FIR against him and three others, Rajkot (rural) Superintendent of Police Antrip Sood.

On March 24, when a group of 47 probationers of the IFS 2017 batch was returning to Ahmedabad by bus, Jadeja allegedly hit one of the them with a rod when he alighted from the vehicle, thinking that he was urinating near his house, Sood said.

"Jadeja and his three supporters also attacked three other probationers when they came to their colleague's rescue. An FIR was registered and the four accused, including Jadeja, were identified on the basis of a CCTV footage," he said.

The four accused were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and 506 (2) (criminal intimidation), Sood said.

Two of the accused were arrested about a week back, while one was still absconding, he said.