3 including ex-BJP MLA hurt in firing

Rajkot: Three persons, including a former BJP MLA, were injured in a firing in Una town of Gir-Somnath district on Thursday afternoon.
Police said three unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants waylaid Kalu Rathod (55), Anantrai Thakar (60) and Lokesh Khattar (35) in the parking lot of MK Park Society.
“One of the accused fired four rounds at the victims from his firearm, injuring the trio.While Rathod received a bullet injury on his chin, Thakar was injured in his stomach. Khattar was also injured,” said V M Chaudhary, inspector with Una police station.
Rathod, an ex-BJP MLA from Una (2007–2012), is the president of Una municipality. Rathod had gone to attend a mourning meet of Geeta Chag, a member of the municipality who died recently, when the attack was launched on him.
The injured have been admitted to a private hospital in Rajkot. While Rathod and Khattar are stated to be out of danger, the condition of Thakar is said to be critical.
Una BJP president Mitesh Shah was an eye witness to the crime. Thousands of people gathered at Rathod’s office after the incident. “We have launched an investigation on the basis of the CCTV footage of the crime. We are trying to ascertain the identities of the assailants,” said Chaudhary.