Villagers rally behind rape accused doc, observe bandh

PALANPUR: People of Ranasan village in Talod taluka of Sabarkantha district observed bandh on Thursday in support of rape accused Dr Jatin K Mehta. Even roadside tea vendors and pan stalls remained closed, said Kitri Bhavsar a local trader.
Located 10km from Talod town, Ranasan is the main business centre for 11 adjoining villages. People from the surrounding villages depend for their daily requirements on Ranasan village which looked deserted on Thursday.
On Sunday a 15-year-old girl from a nearby village had filled a complaint accusing Mehta of raping her after administering some kind of sedative. The incident had taken place some four months ago. The doctor was arrested on Monday and sent to judicial custody.
"We want justice for Dr Mehta who has been practising in the village for last 15 years. We feel that he has been unnecessarily dragged in the rape case," Bhavsar added.
Circle inspector Talod BL Desai, investigating the case said, "The medical report is still awaited. Only after we get the medical report the truth will come out."