| According to police sources, Rasik Variya, a diamond trader, was sitting in his office in Mahidharpura on Tuesday evening when eight to ten miscreants, led by one Ghanshyam Savani alias Ghanshyam Taxi, picked him up, and snatched diamond packets worth Rs 4.50 lakh from him. |
| The miscreants also assaulted Variya, inflicting grievous injuries on him. They ransacked his office, damaging office furniture. |
| A large crowd gathered soon after and police had to resort to a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Variya was rushed to Ashakta Ashram Hospital. His condition is reported to be stable. |
| The diamond traders had also announced plans to organise a rally today to protest the incident, but police denied them permission. The police said six of the miscreants have been arrested. |
| The traders made a representation to commissioner of police V K Gupta, to protest the incident. |
| Meanwhile, while the commissioner was listening to the traders, some traders spotted an accomplice of Ghanshyam Savani watching them from a distance. They caught and assaulted him. Eyewitnesses said additional commissioner of police (range-I) P B Gondia, who arrived at the spot, was also manhandled by the traders. |
| Traders complained that the assault on Rasik Variya is not the only incident of its type. |
| "The antisocial elements are very active in Mahidharpura Hira Bazaar. They harass the traders to extort money from them. It is necessary to bring an end to the activities of these antisocial activities," Vitthalbhai, a diamond trader of Mahidharpura, said. |
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