The Satellite police are yet to arrest people involved in the attack on noted social worker and environment activist Sandra Jhala. Jhala (53), who is undergoing treatment at Medilink hospital near Syamal crossroads, was attacked in her flat in Parth Apartment near Jodhpur road allegedly by her neighbours late on Monday night.

Even two days after the incident, the police are yet to record her version. Jhala, who is also president of an NGO, Animal Lover, was brutally hit on her head by the attackers.

Talking to DNA, Jhala said, "It was an attempt by my neighbours and local goons, including Nainesh Patel, Shailesh Patel, Dipak Patel and Daya Patel, to kill me." Jhala, who has received serious injuries on her head, legs, hand and shoulder, said local goons led by Dipak Patel forcibly entered her house and tried to kill her. Jhala has received more than 50 stitches on her head and has five fractures on her left hand.

Sources said the Satellite police had lodged a case under sections 326, 147, 148, 149 of the IPC and section 135(A) of the BPA. Surprisingly, police have not included section 307 (attempt to murder) in the case.

JCP Mohan Jha said, "I have asked the Satellite police to take strict action in this case and include section 307 too." Jha also visited Jhala at the hospital to enquire about the incident. Jhala, born to an English father and an Indian mother, has been living in Ahmedabad for more than 25 years. She is married to Mahipalsinh Jhala, a scion of Limbdi state in Saurashtra.

Jhala said Dipak Patel, a local goon and her neighbours wanted her to vacate the ground-floor flat, where she has been living for more than 11 years, so that they could use the area for business purpose. "Patel has been running all sorts of nefarious activities, including gambling and liquor trade, from his flats in Parth Apartment and the local police are also assisting Patel," Jhala alleged.

Such is the terror of Patel in the area that nobody wants to speak about the incident. Though, some local residents informed 108 emergency service after Jhala was attacked, none of them is willing to part with any information now.

Jhala & her dogs  

The attack on Sandra Jhala came as a shock to the Bombay Humanitarian League, who condemned the act and sought justice from the police and the legal authorities. “The noble work undertaken by Jhala is commendable, but while she is recuperating in hospital, the dogs who are still unattended may succumb to their injuries in the absence of treatment,” the League said in a statement on Wednesday.

Roshan Kumar/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication