New delhi, February 03: BJP chief whip and Junagadh Municipal Councillor Karmal Katara was shot dead from point blank range at the busy area of Bhavnath Taleti in Junagadh around 10.30 pm on Monday. Katara, a Rabari community leader, was previously the Deputy Mayor of Junagadh.
According to a complaint lodged by Bijal Katara, his brother Karmal was shot dead by a gang of drug and illegal arms dealers against whom the deceased had passed on information to the police.
On the basis of the complaint, the Junagadh police registered a case of murder against five people: Ashwin Kathi, his brother Dilip, Jasu Chapraj and two other unidentified people under the IPC and the Arms Act.
Ashwin, Dilip and Jasu are residents of Junagadh. All except Dilip are absconding.
The police said Dilip was arrested within hours of the complaint.
Bijal said in his complaint that Karmal left his home at Girnar Darwaja with his second brother, Ehba, after dinner to go to a Hanuman temple at the Bhavnath Taleti area.
When Karmal got out of his car and was busy talking to someone over the phone, an unidentified person arrived on a motorbike and fired three shots at him. The assailant then fled in a black coloured car.
The police said Karmal was shot in the head, back and face. He was rushed to Dr D P Chikhaliya Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
Bijal told the police that Ashwin Kathi and his supporters were involved in drug and arms smuggling.
He said in the complaint that based on information provided by his brother the police conducted a raid at Kathi’s den.
During investigation, three used cartridges of .32 bore calibre were recovered from Vadli in Junagadh, the police said, adding that the empty cartridges matched the bullets found from Karmal’s body.
Karmal had been a municipal councillor for the last three terms.
The incident occurred at ward number 9 from where he was elected councillor thrice.
Drunk constable handed over to policeLocals caught a drunk constable from Chandkheda in Ahmedabad and handed him over to the police.
Constable Rajesh Amrutlal from the Chandkheda police station was found in an inebriated state, talking to himself near the Chandkheda-Gandhinagar Road. Passersby identified him from his identity card and wallet and brought him to the Chandkheda police station.
Inspector T S Patel said, “He was completely drunk and he was brought in by a few people. We thanked them for bringing him to the police station. The matter has been reported to senior officers and due action is in progress.” The police have booked him under the violation of the Prohibition Act.
—Agencies