Gujarat HC expresses satisfaction over the CID probe into Shwetang’s death

Ahmedabad

The Gujarat High Court today expressed satisfaction over the progress of the CID probe in to the alleged custodial death of Shwetang Patel (32), a local youth of politically strong Patidar community who died in police custody following his detention during the recent statewide violent reservation quota stir of Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS) in Bapunagar area of the city.

The court also observed that the probe was moving rightly and would bring out the truth and regular monitoring of the probe by the judiciary was not necessary.

The CID today put the progress report in the court of Justice J B Pardiwala, who had ordered the probe on August 28 after going through the second postmortem report that suggested the youth died of shock and brain haemorrhage due to head injuries.

While expressing satisfaction over the progress the court also observed that the police was not a villain but friend of the people. It must maintain its credibility.

The court also asked the authorities to see that anti social elements must not take mileage from the emotional case by misguiding the mother and sister of the deceased youth.

It also said that the doors of the CID were always open for the complainants, if they wish to make any other related complain.

On August 27, mother of Shwetang, Prabhaben Patel, a resident of Matru Krupa Society, Bapunagar had filed a petition in the court alleging that her son died due to injuries inflicted by police on the night of August 25 when violence first broke out.

He was taken away by the police the same night and kept in the lock up where he complaint of headache. The police took him to Shardaben Hospital where he was declared brought dead. The death escalated tension in the Patel-dominated Bapunagar area. His cremation was held in Leelanagar crematorium yesterday amid heavy security deployment including two companies of the army owing to the fears of re-spread of violence.

The High Court in an unprecedented move had held hearing in the evening of August 29, a holiday, to issue directives for security arrangements for the funeral.

Around 10 people died in the violence that erupted in the night of August 25 following the brief detention of PAAS leaders including its convener Hardik Patel, when they were holding a dharna in the GMDC ground of the city after a massive rally during the day demanding OBC quota for the politically strong Patel (Patidar) community in the state for reservation benefits. Bapunagar was also one of the nine localities of Ahmedabad where curfew was imposed after the outset of the violence.