Guj: 3 arrested for attack on Visnagar BJP MLA's vehicle

Three persons were arrested by Mehsana police's local crime branch (LCB) today following the stoning of Visnagar MLA Rishikesh Patel's car.
Patel, a BJP MLA, was passing through ITI Circle in Visnagar late last night when some two dozen people started pelting his car with stones and broke its glass panes.
Police denied the attackers had any connection with Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS). But the Patel leaders said police had arrested PAAS members who were innocent.
The MLA in his complaint named three persons -- Rajesh Patel, Virpara Sandeep Patel and Suhag Khamar -- as being among the attackers. The trio were arrested by the police.

Reason for the attack was not clear. Police said they were looking for other attackers.
Visnagar was one of the nerve-centres of PAAS-led agitation for reservations for the Patel community. The MLA's office in Visnagar was attacked by agitators in July last year during the height of Patidar quota agitation.

Home minister Pradipsinh Jadeja said the perpetrators will not be spared.
"When the incident was reported, district SP immediately rushed to the spot and range IG formed teams of Special Operation Group and LCB. As a result, three persons were arrested at around 3 in the morning. Others will be arrested soon. No one behind the attack will be spared," he said.

Rishikesh Patel said anti-social elements could be behind the attack and not the Patel agitators.
"The same elements which attacked my office in 2015 might have regrouped to create fear. I don't think anyone connected with Patidar agitation would be behind this," he said.
PAAS spokesperson Abhik Patel said, "Some anti-social elements might be involved in the attack. But police have arrested innocent Patidars.