People's Democracy

GUJARAT

Brutal Police Attack On CPI(M) Rally

AN impressive rally organised by the CPI(M) Gujarat state committee at Bhavnagar for food, land and employment on September 9, 2005 was brutally attacked by the police who resorted to lathicharge, targeting select activists including women belonging to AIDWA. Among the injured included the state secretary of the Party, Arun Mehta.

The state committee in a statement strongly condemned this action of the police and    demanded from the government punishment to the guilty police officers.

The rally was held as part of the countrywide movement on food, land and employment issues called by the central committee of the Party. The rallyists proceeded from Motibag area to the collectorate peacefully. While the rally was about to reach the collector’s office to submit the memorandum on food, land and employment, well-armed police force suddenly attacked the rally. Nalini Jadeja, national executive member of AIDWA, Ivan, SFI leader and others were among those seriously injured in this attack by the police. There were two fractures on the head of Ivan. Women leaders were taken to the police station in the night and only after nearly four hours were brought to the hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, mass organis-ations, groups and leaders, without exception, met the collector and conveyed their strong condemnation at the police atrocity. They unanimously demanded action against the guilty police officials. (INN)