Patidars launch stir seeking arrest of men for rape and murder

Members of Patidar community have launched a statewide agitation demanding arrest of some men who they claimed were involved in raping and murdering a woman at Mandvi village in Bhavnagar district on December 2.
The agitators, led by Sardar Patel Group (SPG), claimed the incident occurred when the middle-aged woman, belonging to Patidar community, was waylaid and raped by a group of men when she was walking towards home after her husband's motorcycle broke down, and was murdered.
Gariadhar police have confirmed the incident and have arrested one Atulbhai Baria in this connection.
"At least five-six persons are involved in the incident and we demand arrest of all these people. We had given the government 20-day ultimatum to act which ends today. Now we launch a state-wide agitation," said SPG president Lalji Patel.

Patidars under the aegis of SPG handed over a memorandum to Bhavnagar collector and organised a motorcycle rally today.
Lalji said a memorandum was also given to deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, MoS (Home) Pradipsinh Jadeja, and mamlatdars (Revenue officials) in different parts of the state demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.
A Patidar community member Gaurang Patel is sitting on an indefinite fast in Gandhinagar tomorrow to press for the demand, Lalji said.