In what is being termed as the first attack of its kind, a journalist and his family were attacked by a former Sarpanch and his aides, after they intruded into the journalist’s house on the outskirts of Valsad in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state Gujarat for writing a photo-story critical of a government project, on Saturday (July 6).

Harshadbhai Aahir, 34, the bureau chief of a Gujarati daily Gujarat Mitra and president of the local Journalists Welfare Association, his wife Ketnaben (30) and their one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Vara were assaulted by Dharmesh Patel, former Sarpanch and ex-president of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Valsad taluka unit, and two of his henchmen.

The trio had forcefully entered into the 2-BHK flat of Aahir situated on the third floor of the four-storied Radhika Classic apartment, situated close to Bhagdawada village on the outskirts of Valsad town. 

Patel was angry at the Chief of Bureau for his story which claimed that shoddy work was carried out as part of the beautification work of a pond in the village during his term as deputy Sarpanch. The post of Sarpanch was vacant at the time, and Patel was the in-charge Sarpanch as well.

“In my brief photo story, I had only highlighted that the beautification work of the pond was done just four years ago. I had not even directly named Patel or anybody else in it. I had written that it seemed that substandard work was carried out. A portion of the brick tile pavement made along the periphery of the pond had caved in and got damaged during the recent monsoons,” Aahir said.

Aahir mentioned that around 10 pm the day after the story was published, he received a call from Patel on his mobile phone. He told Aahir to come downstairs, but being aware of his criminal background who was also caught with liquor in his vehicle almost two years back while he was still the Taluka president of BJP, Aahir did not go to meet him. 

“After some time, he, along with his henchmen Jaydev Desai and Sagar Patel, came upstairs and forcefully entered into my flat. He [Patel] immediately started hurling abuse at me, and when I objected to it, he started thrashing me. When my wife tried to save me, they beat her up too and also kicked my little daughter. Hearing the loud voices, the neighbours came and I was somehow rescued. The ex-Sarpanch also threatened me of dire consequences, if I reported the incident to police,” Harshad recalled.

Aahir revealed that he was shocked by the incident inside his house, but knew that Patel was a 'dreaded' man with political connections as well. He informed his friends from the media about the matter and later went to file a complaint with the Valsad town police station.

Over 50 local journalists organised a rally to protest against the incident and handed over memorandums to district collector C.R. Kharsan and Superintendent of Police (Valsad) Sunil Joshi.

Acting on the victim’s complaint, the police arrested the three accused and booked them under Indian Penal Code sections 323, 452 and 506 for assault, house trespass and criminal intimidation, informed SP Joshi.

On being asked whether there was any political pressure on him in the matter, SP Joshi answered in negative and said the two accomplices of Patel were nabbed quickly. 

Patel surrendered before the police on Tuesday (July 10). Raids were not part of the strategy to nab Patel, Joshi revealed. However, he was released on bail on Wednesday by a local court. The other two accused were granted bail earlier.

Utpal Desai, bureau chief of another Gujarati daily Sandesh, alleged that the police did not act as promptly as they should have. “We media people provided them leads for the arrests. It is not our job, the police should have acted on their own. I have also suggested Harshad to submit an application in the court and police to provide proper security to him,” he said.

He also said that the main culprit was relative of a BJP MLA and was quite close to him. 

Harshad said that the main culprit—who was now out on bail—could try to exact revenge, but he hasn’t sought any police protection yet. “To be honest I am concerned about my safety and my family. He has warned me to leave the locality. We have informed the authorities about it,” he said.

Meanwhile, local BJP MLA Bharat Patel, who is a relative of the accused Dharmesh, has condemned the attack. “I am in Gandhinagar from a few days before the incident as the assembly is in session. I don't know much about it, but I condemn the attack,” he said. 

When asked whether he has recommended any action against the accused, the BJP MLA said, “He holds no post in the party, and is perhaps not even the primary member of it anymore. What action the party can take in such a case!”

Gujarat State Congress Committee spokesperson Manish Doshi said the attack on the member of the ‘fourth pillar’ of democracy shows the real face of the BJP. “There was nothing new in it. In BJP, from top to bottom there are such people who can't tolerate even genuine and 'with-proof' criticism. They do such things to suppress any voice against them,” he said.