(Eds: Minor changes in intro)Ahmedabad, Jan 16 (PTI) The Ahmedabad police todaydismissed VHP leader Pravin Togadia's claim that he could havebeen killed in a fake encounter, saying it is nearlyimpossible to eliminate someone who has 'Z-plus' security.
A top police official also said that all the time hewas 'missing' yesterday, Togadia was at his aide's house.
Togadia, who became untraceable for some time yesterdaybefore he was admitted to a hospital, today claimed he wentinto hiding after learning that a police team from Rajasthanhad come to "encounter" him.
Speaking to reporters, Joint Commissioner of Police,Crime Branch, J K Bhatt said investigation revealed thatTogadia was conscious -- contrary to his account that hebecame uunconscious -- on his way to airport. He reached aspot near the airport in a car owned by his aide GhanshyamCharandas, who then called a '108' ambulance.
"Z-plus is one of the best security cover, as you geta pilot vehicle, a bulletproof vehicle and inspector-levelarmed personnel having AK-47 rifles. So it is nearlyimpossible to get killed in an encounter. It (Togadia'sapprehension) is just a figment of imagination," Bhatt said.
According to police, after leaving the VHP's office inPaldi area around 10.30 yesterday morning, Togadia reachedCharandas's house in Thaltej and stayed there till evening.
"Around 8.35 pm, Ghanshyam and Togadia reachedSardarnagar area in Ghanshyam's car. Then Ghanshyam called108 ambulance service by telling the operator that anunidentified person is ill. When the ambulance arrived,Ghanshyam told the staff to take that person straight toChandrmani Hospital in Shahibaug," said Bhatt.
Doctors at the hospital were possibly informed inadvance about Togadia's visit, as "call records even suggestedthat the doctor was contacted at around 6.00 pm over mobilephone", the police officer said.
"If Togadia wanted to go somewhere, he should havetaken the security personnel along...This whole issue couldhave been avoided if he had taken the security personnelalong," Bhatt said.
Togadia, addressing a press conference at the hospital,claimed that attempts were being made to silence himwhen he was raising the voice of the Hindu community. PTI PJTPD KRKSKSK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.