JOIN USDevani, who has been crusading against the mushrooming illegal constructions in Porbandar, was pulled out of his car and stabbed by six assailants Friday. While undergoing treatment at a hospital, Devani named Babu Bokharia, a former Bharatiya Janata Party minister, and two others as responsible for the attack on him.
Devani had filed a petition with the Gujarat High Court and investigations led to the arrest of the former irrigation minister in the Rs.54 crore illegal limestone mining case.
Devani is the second RTI activist in the state to have suffered an attempt on his life.
RTI activist Amit Jethwa, who was crusading against illegal mining in the areas around the Sasan Gir lion sanctuary and had filed a Public Interest Litigation in the state high court, was shot dead outside the high court premises in July 2010.
Devani, who has already faced threats to his life, had told the police that his assailants had abused him, threatening him for repeatedly complaining.
They later assaulted him with sticks and then stabbed him innthe stomach with a knife.
Devani had complained against an illegal building and a hotel coming up in violation of Coastal Regulations Zone (CRZ) norms.