Indrasinh Zala murder: Group clash leaves one dead in Morbi

The SP said that the clash was related to the acrimony created between two caste groups since alleged murder of Zala on July 7. “Caste member of Zala were on their way to Dhrangadhra to attend his condolence meeting when people from the other caste group started pelting stones on their vehicles. This led to violence. However, the situation is under control now. Police has been deployed and rioters have been dispersed,” said the SP.

Later in the evening, Minister of State for Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja told a local news channel that SRP had been deployed in Dhrangadhra and Halvad and that mobile internet services had been suspended in Mobri and Surendranagar districts. He further said that inspector genral of police of Rajkot range had reached Halvad and that the situation had been brought under control.

Zala was associated with the BJP and had also been elected president of Halvad municipality. However, he was booked for alleged murder of one Popat Bharvad in Dhrangadhra town in 2012 and was jailed. When he was out on interim bail, he and his family members were allegedly attacked by a group of around 14 men near Dhrangadhra town last Friday while they were on their way back home after holidaying in Rajasthan. Surendranagar police say that Zala was murdered to avenge the alleged murder of Bharvad. So far, Surendranagar police have arrested one person in connection with Zala’s murder.

Incidentally, a day after Zala’s murder, Surendranagar and Dhrangadhra towns had witnessed violence as mobs torched vehicles and cabins.