VHP international working president Pravin Togadia, who was “untraceable” since Monday morning, when a contingent of Rajasthan Police came to arrest him in an old case, was found in an unconscious state at a park here on same night.
According to a statement of the VHP, Togadia, who suffered from low blood sugar levels, was found lying in an unconscious state at a park in Shahibaug and was taken to Chandramani Hospital, where he is said to be recuperating.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) workers, across cities of Gujarat, staged protest following his mysterious disappearance. VHP activists resorted to blocking roads, pelted stones on public vehicles and forced people out of city and State transport buses in Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surat among other places. Tension gradually mounted from morning as news started spreading regarding Togadia’s alleged arrest by Rajasthan police in a decade old murder case. In the afternoon VHP workers assembled at Sola police station in Ahmedabad and shouted slogans in favour of their leader.
Rajasthan police denied arrest of the Hindu leader late in the evening. Given his Z-plus security cover, suspense has been created around his abrupt disappearance. Later in the day Ahmedabad Crime Branch Joint Commissioner of Police JK Bhatt clarified that crime branch officials had accompanied Rajasthan policemen to Togadia’s house but he was not found there. After that the formalities were completed at the Sola police station, said Bhatt, adding that neither Rajasthan police, nor their Gujarat counterparts have arrested Pravin Togadia.
Bhatt however, said that as VHP leader was accorded Z-plus security, there was always a guard outside his premises. He further said that Togadia had come to VHP office at Paldi in the morning and told the static guard outside – Head constable Vikramsinh – that he would be back in half-an-hour. After that he took an auto rickshaw and went somewhere with a bearded person, said the joint Commissioner of Police. Moreover Togadia instructed escorts not to come before 2.30 pm, he added. The Ahmedabad crime branch has formed four teams to trace the VHP leader. These teams have started monitoring all possible CCTV footages near VHP office as well as Paldi area.
Senior VHP leader in Ahmedabad Ranchhod Bharwad demanded that they should be informed about the whereabouts of Dr. Togadia. According to Bharwad Togadia had expressed fear about his safety. Sources in Ahmedabad unit of VHP said that a complaint would be lodged on the issue with Crime Branch.