Amreli police make first arrests under amended PASA Act

Rajkot: Two loan sharks in Amreli were arrested on Thursday under the recently amended Prevention Of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act.
Amreli local crime branch (LCB) inspector RK Karamta said the arrests of Premji Bawishi (59) and Jhilu Bhutaiya (40) were the first in Gujarat under the amended Act. The duo has been accused of driving a man to suicide in Mota Ankadia village of Amreli taluka.
Bawishi was sent to Sabarmati Central Jail while Bhutaiya was sent to Vadodara Central Jail.
Earlier, only bootlegging and physical assault and theft were covered under the purview of PASA. Following the amendments, usury, cyber crimes, gambling and sexual offences have also been included under the purview of PASA.
Lakshmanpari Gosai (47) had committed suicide by consuming pesticides at his residence after he could no longer bear the harassment caused by Bawishi and Bhutaiya, who were hounding him for recovery of their loan.
“After the amendment, we made a proposal against Bawishi and Bhutaiya and sent it to the collector who issued a warrant against them. They were arrested and imprisoned,” said Karamta.