Cong leader accuses Rajkot cops of abusing him, flogging horse

By Nischal Sanghavi

The novel protest against petrol and diesel price hike which had horse-mounted Congress leaders come out on the roads, ended with them being detained and animals allegedly flogged by Rajkot police. The protest organised by Rajkot Congress on Monday morning had 37 party members come out on the roads riding horses, symbolic of the unaffordable fuel costs. However, the event made way for a huge ruckus on Rajkot’s Yagnik Road. Congress leader Rajdeepsinh Jadeja alleged he was hurt and abused by Rajkot police who even hurt the poor animal.

Jadeja was allegedly forced to get down from the horse and enter the police van. He said he requested the police to not hurl abuses but these went unheeded by Rajkot Assistant Commissioner of Police H L Rathod and Police Inspector V M Gadhvi. The video of the incident has gone viral.

ACP Rathod said they had not hit the horse or Dr Jadeja. He said that Jadeja had to be detained but was not getting down from the horse. So they had to control the horse for a while. He also denied having abused Dr Jadeja, saying they had to force him into the police van as he was refusing to get into the vehicle. He said that after the horse was handed over to its owner, the cops even shared a cup of tea with Dr Jadeja at the police station after which he was released.

Police Commissioner Manoj Agarwal said, “People are required to maintain law and order and obey the orders issued by the police. If they fail to do so, the police may have to resort to force.”