Kin accept Bhanubhai Vankar's body after midnight meets

Dalit activist Bhanubhai Vankar's body was not accepted by his family members until late Sunday night. The body, which had been lying at the post-mortem department for almost 48 hours was accepted only after the kin of the deceased negotiated with government officials in presence of Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani.

Bhanubhai's body was received at around 6 am on Monday from the hospital and taken to Unjha.

Vankar's funeral was held at around 11.30 pm near Vankarvass area, Unjha, where more than 1,000 people had gathered.

More than 150 Dalit protesters, including Mevani, were detained on Sunday morning after they staged a protest in Ahmedabad. Government officials had sent a written draft to Vankar's family, saying that they will accept all the demands made by the community members. Vankar's family, who refused to accept the body until Mevani was released from custody at around 7.30 pm, said the body will be received from the hospital only after their leader was released.

Mevani reached the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital at around 8.45 pm and met the members of the mourning family.

The leader, along with Vankar's family, sought a written draft from the government, comprising signatures of the officials. The kin accepted the body at around 2.30 am after holding several meetings with the officials.

Vankar had set himself on fire outside the office of Patan collectorate on February 15. He was protesting a delay in granting land titles to two Dalit families from Dhadhuka village of Sami Taluka. He had sustained 90 per cent burns and was shifted to Apollo Hospital in Gandhinagar, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Demands Of The Dalit Community

• Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, along with Bhanubhai Vankar’s family, sought a written draft from the government, comprising signatures of the officials. 
• The kin accepted the body at around 2.30 am after holding several meetings with the officials. 
• Vankar had set himself on fire outside the office of Patan collectorate on February 15.