In an incident unusual for Gujarat, a local BJP leader from Vapi industrial town was shot dead in broad daylight allegedly by unidentified persons on Monday morning when he was sitting in his SUV.
Shailesh Patel, vice-president of ruling BJP’s Vapi taluka (tehsil) in South Gujarat’s Valsad district, was waiting in his vehicle for his wife to return from a temple in Kocharva village, police said.
4 assailants allegedly spotted at crime spot
Police said four assailants on two motorbikes drove close to the SUV and fired three to four rounds at Patel and escaped within a minute.
Vapi taluka BJP president Suresh Patel said Shailesh Patel had gone to the temple with his wife to offer prayers. After praying, he came out and was waiting for his wife in his SUV when four people came and shot at him.
Patel shot dead early morning
Police said the incident occurred around 7.30 am when Patel was waiting in his vehicle. When his wife rushed to the spot hearing the noise she found him in a pool of blood and screamed for help.
Patel was immediately taken by some locals to a private hospital in Vapi where doctors pronounced him dead, police said.
BJP leaders demand probe into incident
Local BJP leaders and people in the region were stunned since Gujarat rarely witnessed such incidents. Expressing their shock and grief, the BJP demanded a probe into the incident.
The police said they were already on the job and were scanning CCTV footage of the area to look for clues and questioning suspects.
Police have blocked some roads in the area and formed two teams to look for the assailants.
