A BJP councillor of Jasdan municipality in Rajkot district was allegedly shot dead by vice president of the civic body late on Wednesday night over an old rivalry.

Vipul Hirapara alias Lamp, councillor of ruling BJP from ward number-1 of the Jasan Municipality was assaulted by a group of eight men while he was attending a meeting of his community on Chitaliya road of Jasdan. The group, led by Ghanshyam Khachar alias District, first attacked Hirapara with sharp-edged weapons and later shot dead the councillor, police said.

The town observed a bandh on Thursday in protest of the murder.

“Khachar’s brother Dipak opened firing on Hirapara. The victim’s father also sustained injury caused by sharp-edged weapon when he tried to protect his son,” district superintendent of police (DSP) of Rajkot, Gagandeep Gambhir told The Indian Express on Thursday.

The incident took place at around 9 pm on Thursday and Hirapara died on the spot, police said.

“The two groups have a rivalry going on for the last three years. In November last year, the two groups had filed cross complaints and the murder seems to be a fallout of this rivalry,” the DSP further said.

In protest of the murder, Jasdan town remained closed on Thursday and community members of Hirapara took out a rally. They later submitted a memorandum to sub-divisional magistrate of Jasdan demanding action against “anti-social elements responsible for murder.”

Later in the evening on Thursday, Jasdan police arrested two men identified as Ashok alias Bhadu and Adhu in connection with the crime.

“We have recovered two live cartridges from the spot. Investigation so far has revealed that Khachar’s brother Deepak fired at Hirapara,” Gambhir added.

Heavy police deployment was made in Jasadan after the murder as, the DSP said, they apprehended the situation to escalate. However, funeral of the victim and the bandh passed off peacefully and Gambhir added the situation was under control.

This is third incident in recent months when a BJP leader has allegedly attacked a fellow BJP leader in Rajkot district. In August, BJP corporator in Rajkot Municipal Corporation, Anil Rathod was booked after he allegedly tried to run his car over fellow BJP corporator Jayshree Dodiya in Rajkot city. Early this month, former deputy mayor of Rajkot, Narendra Solanki was booked by police in connection with the alleged attempt to murder BJP corporator Damyanti Rathod’s husband Jagdish. Solanki resigned as BJP corporator after he was named in the attempt to murder case.

“We shall send a report to party high command over the incident. The party will take the matter very seriously and those involved in anti-social acitivities will be punished,” Bharat Boghra, former MLA of Jasdan and a BJP leader said on Thursday.

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