Guj: Banas Dairy's govt-appointed custodian injured in attack

The newly-appointed custodian of Banas Dairy in Banaskantha district and two others were injured after a mob of angry cattle-rearers allegedly beat them up.
The incident took place this afternoon when a group of people, allegedly belonging to 'Pashupalak Heet Rakhask Samiti', entered the premises moments after the District Registrar of Co-operatives S B Chauhan took over as the custodian of the Banaskantha District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited, popularly known as Banas Dairy.
Banas Dairy is one of the constituents of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation which markets its products under the famous Amul brand.
"The district registrar, in compliance with the Gujarat government's order, had gone to take over as the custodian of the dairy. A mob rushed into the dairy premises and attacked the registrar and others accompanying him," Banaskantha District Collector Dilip Rana said.

According to him, the attackers, who were opposed to the appointment of custodian by the state government, also ransacked the office.
Apart from Chauhan, Banas Dairy's former director Anadabhai Patel and another person named Lakshman Patel were injured. All of them have been admitted to a hospital.

However, no police complaint had been filed yet.
Gujarat government appointed Chauhan as the custodian of the dairy after eight out of its 14 directors recently tendered resignations, paving way for fresh elections.
However, the current dairy chairman Parthi Bhatol has alleged that state government did not follow proper procedure in appointing the custodian, despite the High Court's instructions in this regard.