

Bharuch: Aam Admi Party (AAP) in Bharuch will be holding a meeting soon to discuss political implications arising out of the arrest of an active AAP member for the murder of two BJP leaders in November.

Shirish Bengali, former president of BJP Bharuch unit, and Pragnesh Mistry of BJP Yuva Morcha, were gunned down by armed assailants on November 2 at Bengali's office at Sewashram Road in Bharuch. Of the 11 people arrested so far for the double murder by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Gujarat Police, one of the accused Abid Patel happened to be an AAP worker and a British citizen.

Abid (41) was arrested a week ago along with Salim Sattar (35) of Mumbai from Indo-Nepal border for his involvement in the case, which is now being investigated by the NIA team. He is brother of Javed Chikna, a close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, and had masterminded the killings at behest of the gangster to create panic among Hindu leaders, sources said.

AAP Bharuch unit secretary K P Sharma told TOI on Tuesday, "Abid Patel had joined AAP as a volunteer a year ago. He was active in our party affairs. He said he is inspired by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. We are shocked by his involvement in this crime. The moment we came to know about it, Bharuch AAP unit president Agatsya Saha held an emergency meeting wherein Abid was sacked from the party. We are cooperating with the police in the investigation and condemn all such acts." tnnSunil Tarde, police inspector, local crime branch, Bharuch, said, "Abid was an active AAP worker. We talked to several AAP leaders and they have confirmed this and also that his membership has been terminated for being involved in the double murder case of Bharuch that rocked the country."

