Jignesh Mevani receives death threat allegedly from gangster Ravi Pujari

AHMEDABAD: Independent MLA from Gujarat and Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani on Friday claimed to have received a death threat from a person who identified himself as fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari.

The Vadgam legislator alleged that he has been receiving similar threats over the last two days and the latest came on his old mobile number, which is currently being used by his associate Kaushik Parmar.

"Today again, I received a threat call on my original number from a person introducing himself as Ravi Pujari from Australia,'' Mevani tweeted.

Day 3, threat call continues from Ravi Pujari. Today again I received a threat call on my original number from a person introducing himself as Ravi Pujari frm Australia and also sent a text saying - "stop giving provocative speeches or will shot you. Umar Khalid is also in list" — Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) June 8, 2018

''The caller also sent a text message, saying - stop giving a provocative speech or will shoot you. Umar Khalid is also on my list," Mevani said in another tweet.

+75397326097 नंबर से फ़ोन आया है और +60176206085 से मैसेज आया है - Yeh Jo Provocative Speeches Dena Bandh Kar Warna Tok Dunga. Umar Khalid Bi Mere Hit List Me he. yeh mere Tarpshe warning .MAFIA DON RAVI POOJARY — Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) June 8, 2018

Mevani also suspected BJP hand behind regular death threats to him. 

मुजे मिल रही धमकियां एक सरकारी साज़िश? क्योंकि यदि कोई रवि पूजारी हमे मार डाले तब तो भाजपा का काम आसान हो जायेंगा। अंबेडकरवादी आंदोलन पर हमला करने की भी यह चाल लग रही है। — Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) June 8, 2018

According to Parmar, he received a call from a person claiming to be Pujari, who asked him whether he had read the text message.

"In that message, sent from another number, the person warned Mevani to stop giving provocative speeches, otherwise the MLA will be shot dead. 

"He even said that student activist Umar Khalid is also on his hit list," Parmar said.

Mevani claimed that this was the third death threat he had received in as many days.

Parmar has informed the police in Banaskantha district about the latest alleged threat call. He had lodged a complaint about the first threat call on June 6.

"As we are already investigating the case after the FIR was registered on June 6, we will include this fresh incident in the ongoing probe," said Sub-Inspector RP Zala.

On June 6, Parmar, who manages Mevani's office in Vadgam and carries a mobile phone with the MLA's old number, lodged a complaint that a person who identified himself as "Rajvir Mishra" called him and threatened to shoot Mevani.

Yesterday, Parmar claimed that someone called from the same number again and threatened that Mevani should "get ready to pay the price". 

(With PTI inputs)