Gujarat Riots Convict Held for Allegedly Assaulting Revati Laul

Suresh Chhara arrested after he reportedly slapped journalist Revati Laul during an interview.

Journalist Revati Laul shows the clot in her eye and hand marks on her face. (Photo: ANI screengrab)

Suresh Chhara, a convict in the 2002 Gujarat riot case who allegedly slapped and punched journalist Revati Laul has now been arrested.

Chhara, who was out on parole, was being interviewed at his house in Naroda, Ahmedabad by Laul where she claims that he slapped her, pinned her against the wall and tried to pull her hair. She added, that she managed to escape when Chhara’s son and some neighbours intervened. She later filed a complaint with the Vejalpur police station.

<p> I visited him at his house and I politely asked him if he wanted to share information about himself, his past, family and he, without provocation, started slapping me. He kept on punching me and banged my head to the wall. I somehow managed to flee from the spot. </p>

Laul, in an interview with NDTV, took responsibility for not going in with protection to meet Chhara who was released on parole only last week.

In 2013, Suresh Chhara was convicted to 31 years in prison for his role in the Naroda Patiya massacre during the 2002 Gujarat riots, in which around 100 people were killed.

He was released on parole by a local court last week, reportedly to trace his teenage daughter who has been missing since the last few months.

Chhara’s former wife had alleged last month that he tried to rape her when he was released on parole few months ago, following which his parole was cancelled.