Quota agitation leader Lalji Patel receives threat call

Mehsana: Convener of Sardar Patel Group (SPG) Lalji Patel who initiated the quota agitation for the Patel community on Wednesday received a threat call being warned of dire consequences if he does not withdraw the movement, police said.

"Lalji Patel today filed a complaint stating that he has received a threat from an unidentified person on his cell phone twice late last night," Sub-inspector, Mehsana taluka Police Station, P R Karan said.

According to Patel's complaint, the unidentified caller threatened him either to withdraw the ongoing agitation in support of the demand for Patels or be ready to face dire consequences," the officer said.

As per the complaint, Patel's aide Harshadbhai Somabhai had first got a call from an unidentified caller who cautioned him to quit the Lalji Patel-led agitation. Somabhai then hung up the call. The caller then called Lalji himself, he said.

An FIR has been registered under IPC section 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) and further investigation has begun, the officer said.

Lalji Patel, through SPG, had started the quota agitation for Patel community around a decade ago.

The agitation's current face, 22-year-old Hardik Patel started to work on the movement under the tutelage of Lalji.