Date:02/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/02/stories/2005030205421100.htm

National

BJP leader shot dead

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD, MARCH 1. The general secretary of the Porbandar unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Keshubhai Odedra, was shot dead in broad daylight, allegedly by two sons of a former independent member of the Gujarat Assembly, Santokben Jadeja — the theme model of the Bollywood film, `Godmother.'

Mr. Odedra (41), a former member of the Porbandar municipality, was standing near a paan-shop along with another person in Kadia Naka plot locality in the town around 11 a.m. when the two came there in a car and pumped eight bullets into the deceased from a revolver.

The police said Mr. Odedra was hit by five bullets, including three on the head. He died on way to the hospital while his companion escaped unhurt. The assailants were identified as Karan and Kandal, the two sons of Ms. Jadeja, an MLA in the early '90s from Kutiyana in Junagadh district.

The police believe that old enmity could have been the motive behind the murder. The two assailants and the driver of the car were absconding and a massive manhunt has been launched to nab them.