In a dramatic rescue operation, Junagadh police have arrested four individuals from across Gujarat in connection with the kidnapping of a local advocate and two labourers. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, is allegedly linked to the advocate's pursuit of information about a temple in Valsad through a Right to Information (RTI) application.
Violent Abduction and Statewide Alert
The victim, identified as Sanjay Kapadia, a resident of Tadka Pipaliya village in Bhesan taluka, was targeted along with two labourers. According to police officials, a group of assailants arrived in three vehicles, assaulted the trio with sticks, and forcibly bundled them into the cars. Immediately after the incident was reported, law enforcement agencies sprang into action, alerting neighbouring districts and establishing roadblocks to intercept the kidnappers.
Coordinated Rescue Leads to Arrests
The breakthrough came when investigators received a crucial tip-off indicating the suspects were near the Dhandhuka area. Junagadh police, with support from Ahmedabad rural police, intensified patrols in the region. Their vigilance paid off when they intercepted a suspiciously moving vehicle, successfully rescuing the kidnapped victims unharmed.
Following the rescue, police swiftly apprehended four accused men:
- Prashant Dedukiya (31) of Valsad
- Meet Vekariya (29) of Valsad
- Kamlesh Rudani (43) of Navsari
- Ajay Boghra (38) of Vadodara
Authorities confirmed that seven more suspects are still at large and a manhunt is underway to capture them.
RTI Query Unearths Fake Receipt, Sparks Revenge Plot
Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravirajsinh Parmar revealed the motive behind the kidnapping. He stated that the advocate, Sanjay Kapadia, had previously donated to a temple in Valsad and received a receipt. However, he later discovered the receipt was fake. This prompted him to probe the matter further, leading him to file an RTI application with the charity commissioner's office.
"The accused are connected to the temple, and we suspect the kidnapping was planned out of grudge," DySP Parmar explained. The police believe the temple associates orchestrated the abduction to intimidate Kapadia and stop his investigation into the fraudulent donation receipt.
The case highlights the risks faced by citizens using transparency tools like the RTI Act and underscores the swift inter-district police coordination in Gujarat that led to the victims' safe recovery.
