Gujarat in damage control, orders CID probe

With the death of dalits in Than town threatening to turn into a political issue, the state government acted swiftly and on Monday handed over the investigation into the incident to CID (crime). It also announced a compensation of Rs2 lakh to the family of each of the deceased.

Further, Than police sub-inspector, KP Jadeja, was suspended for his role in the police firing that took place on Saturday and Sunday. Three dalit youths were killed in the firing.

However, it took two cabinet ministers of the state, two district superintendents of police, one inspector-general and one deputy inspector general to bring the situation in Than under control. The killings threatened to become a political issue when Congress leaders too visited the area. 

The bereaved families accepted the bodies of the three youths killed in the firing after visiting ministers and the state government gave the assurance that appropriate action will be taken against the erring policemen.

Later, the deceased youths were cremated with thousands of people taking part in their funeral procession. Sources said the police have registered three complaints against the dalit crowd as around 20 police officials were also injured in the clashes. Two complaints were filed by the Dalits — one against the police and the other against members of the Bharwad community.

Some Bharwad youths had allegedly assaulted a dalit youth at a local fair on Friday, setting off a chain of events that led to the police firing.

Even as the police claim that situation in Than is under control, sources said that the dalits in the town are still very angry.

Rohit Parmar, a local dalit, told DNA that the police are trying to subvert the investigation by registering complaints against members of the Scheduled Castes.

“They have mentioned in the FIR that a crowd had attacked them. That means they will arrest anyone they wish from our locality without any proper evidence,” said Parmar. 

District superintendent of police, Surendranagar, Raghvendra Vats, told DNA over the phone that the situation in Than is under control and the bereaved families have accepted the bodies of the deceased.

When asked about the police firing, Vats said that the crowd was getting violent and that it had been warned before being fired upon.  “When all warnings failed, the police were forced to fire, first in air and then at the crowd,” Vats said.

Inspector general of police, Rajkot range, Pravin Sinha told DNA that 250 additional state reserve police personnel, along with the local police, have been deployed in the area and continuous patrolling is being carried out.