Celebratory firing in Vanzara’s rally, police order probe

Rajkot, Aug 21 (PTI) Retired IPS officer D G Vanzara’ssupporters allegedly fired celebratory gunshots in the airduring his rally in Gondal town here today, prompting policeto launch a probe into the incident. The controversial former Gujarat police officer, a keyaccused in the alleged fake encounters of Ishrat Jahan,Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsi Prajapati, was in Gondal to takepart in the rally organised by his supporters to felicitatehim. A video clip of the incident, which immediately went viralon social media platforms, purportedly showed some personsfiring in the air as the rally passed through a busy road. Two persons carrying guns are seen standing beside Vanzarain an open jeep, while a few others are wielding their gunsand dancing with a group of supporters on the road. In the video, at least five to six persons can be seencarrying guns, two of them firing in the air. After learning about the incident, Rajkot SP AntripSood ordered an inquiry into it. "After we got to know about the incident, I ordered aninquiry into it and asked police officials in Gondal town toprobe the matter," he said. "We are also collecting videos of the celebratory firingto find out who were involved in it. We will take appropriateaction," the SP said. Vanzara was arrested on 24 April, 2007 by CID (Crime) inconnection with the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encountercase. In September 2014, a Mumbai court gave him bail in theSoharabuddin and Tulsi Prajapati alleged fake encounter cases,a year before he was granted bail in Ishrat Jahan case. On April 2, a special CBI court relaxed bail conditionsfor Vanzara, removing prohibition on his movement and allowinghim to enter and stay in Gujarat. PTI VJA PJT PD NPGVSGVS