Textile broker's murder: BJP councillor sparks row with encounter remark
Chomal made the statement on Sunday afternoon at the crime scene near Vatika Township in Limbayat, where police had brought two of the arrested accused for reconstruction of the offence.
Agrawal was murdered in the early hours of Saturday near the Dumbhal fire station. The Limbayat police, along with the Surat crime branch, have arrested two of the four accused — Dipakkumar Singh (35) and Bhagwan Manglu Sai (25). A third accused, Abrar Lassi, is currently on the run, while the fourth suspect, Asfaq Kawa, is believed to have masterminded the attack, police said.
On Sunday, as news spread about the accused being brought to the crime scene, a large crowd gathered, demanding capital punishment. Chomal, who arrived with other local BJP leaders, went a step further by urging police to carry out an on-the-spot encounter.
"Such brutal murders cannot be tolerated. The police should shoot the accused in the chest with their service revolvers so such crimes do not happen again," Chomal said in full public view during the reconstruction.
Later, when contacted by TOI, Chomal clarified: "What I meant was it should be 'tit for tat' for such criminals. A civilised society cannot accept such incidents. I demand that the case be tried in a fast-track court and concluded within a month."
When asked about Chomal's remarks, Surat city BJP president Paresh Patel said, "I am not aware of any such statement by Chomal. I will be able to comment on it once I hear it."
Deputy commissioner of police (zone 2) Bhagirath Gadhvi said, "We identified three accused who were seen on CCTV attacking Agrawal.
During interrogation, the arrested men revealed that the murder was orchestrated by Asfaq Kawa, who allegedly held a grudge against Agrawal for beating him in the past." Both Singh and Sai reportedly have prior criminal records, he added.
Meanwhile, police have intensified the search for the absconding accused, Abrar Lassi and Asfaq Kawa.
BOX: 'Textile broker stabbed over 50 times'
CCTV footage showed three men brutally stabbing Alok Agrawal at least 50 times. The attack was so savage that Agrawal suffered deep injuries to his legs, hands, and other parts of his body. Police are exploring multiple theories behind the murder — one suggests the accused believed Agrawal was a police informer, while another points to a personal grudge involving a past altercation with Asfaq Kawa.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Friendship Day wishes
,
messages
and
quotes
!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
20 minutes ago
- Economic Times
J&K parties mark Article 370 anniversary as 'Black Day', BJP holds celebrations in Lal Chowk
Most political parties in Kashmir, barring the BJP, marked the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 as a 'black day,' calling it a loss of identity and rights. Authorities barred protests in Srinagar's Lal Chowk, even as BJP held a celebration there. Several leaders were confined to party offices or homes, while PDP and NC slammed the clampdown. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Political parties across the spectrum in Kashmir, except the BJP, observed the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of special status of J&K as a "black day" and a day of mourning when the identity and rights of the people were authorities didn't allow the political parties to organise protest marches in the city centre, Lal Chowk, while the BJP was allowed to organise a celebratory function at the historic clock tower in Lal Chowk of Srinagar. The BJP activists also organised a bike rally to commemorate the decisions of August 5, politicians and their supporters were restricted inside their respective party premises while many others were not allowed to leave their homes. The ruling NC legislator from Srinagar, Salman Sagar, who led a protest gathering inside the party office said the authorities can lock the offices and confine the leaders but they cannot imprison an idea. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said August 5 marks a black day not just for J&K, but for entire nation.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
BJP will ensure inclusive growth in BTR: CM
1 2 Guwahati: Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), once hit by violence, is now celebrating peace and democracy and can develop rapidly with participation from all linguistic and ethnic groups, ensuring that no one feels like a second-class citizen, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday. Observing the enthusiastic support from party workers during his campaign for the Bodoland Territorial Council elections, he said BJP is poised to win majority seats in the upcoming elections. Talking to the media, he added that BJP's key ally, Assam Gana Parishad (AGP), should contest the elections if they can win, but should not step into the electoral battleground against BJP. He said neither Pramod Boro-led United Peoples' Party Liberal (UPPL) nor Hagrama Mohilary's Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF) is BJP's enemy. He added that BJP wants to work in tandem with UPPL and BPF for the peace and progress of BTR. The CM said BTR, once troubled by unrest, saw an end to such conditions following the formation of the Narendra Modi-led central govt and the BJP-led state govt. He mentioned that thousands of lives were lost during the unrest in BTR, but since the signing of the BTR accord in 2020 and his assumption of office as CM in 2021, no incidents of shootings or bombings have occurred. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Blood cancer is taking our curious baby away from us! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Sarma added that such a peaceful environment was once unimaginable for the region's residents, and now BTR is advancing towards development. He credited this change to the BJP-led govts at the centre and state. "In the past five years, we worked to bring lasting peace to BTR. We've integrated those who believed in extremism into the mainstream. This task was only possible because of the BJP-led govt," he added. He mentioned that 26 ethnic communities reside in BTR, and every community should have land rights. He stated that if the BJP emerges as the party with the most seats, the problems of these communities will be resolved. "Only the BJP can solve BTR's issues because our party's policies and goals are clear. We believe that rapid development in BTR is possible only if all communities receive equal rights," he added.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
MP woman scales Mount Elbrus, unfurls banner to promote anti-drug campaign
Bhopal: Anjana Singh , a 26-year-old resident of Amarpatan in Maihar, unfurled a banner reading "Nashe Se Duri Hai Zaroori" (Say No to Drugs) atop Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, standing at 18,510 feet above sea level on July 27. This message is part of a campaign launched by Madhya Pradesh Police to make people aware about drugs and wean away those addicted from it. Singh took about 72 hours to reach the summit. "I unfurled the banner of the 'Nashe Se Duri' campaign there. I've always been vocal about promoting Hindi— most of the banner content was in Hindi. Even when abroad, I prefer speaking in our native language and often request people to translate," she told TOI. In addition to her mountaineering achievement, Singh serves as the brand ambassador for the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign in the district. After returning from Mount Elbrus on August 4, she was felicitated by senior police officials. "I will continue supporting the police in their ongoing drive to create awareness among girls," she added. The Maihar Police are concurrently running a special awareness initiative named 'Prabodhini', aimed at educating adolescent girls in the district about safety, social risks, and encouraging them to pursue educational and career goals. On Tuesday, a special event was organised at the SP office to energise the campaign, where Singh was honoured for both her mountaineering feat and her contribution to the police's anti-drug awareness efforts. Speaking about the initiative, SP Sudhir Agrawal stated that 'Prabodhini' was launched in October 2024 and has since involved teams visiting schools and villages to disseminate information. "The campaign aims to reduce vulnerability among girls and help them understand how to safeguard themselves in today's environment," he said. As part of the expansion, a dedicated WhatsApp group will be created for schoolgirls to stay connected, share updates, and act as peer ambassadors in both urban and rural areas. "The goal is to build a strong network of informed and empowered young girls who can identify and report abuse while inspiring others to do the same," Agrawal added.
