In video: Family members of victims had stated that they wanted SIT or CBI probe, any of two. They than thanked the government. A mother of victim had also thanked CM, minister and Nagarpalika chief and said she is now happy to return back to village as she has got justice. However within 48 hours family members changed the tone, and said they were not satisfied

Ahmedabad: Taking U-turn today, the families of the three Dalit youths killed in Thangadh rejected Gujarat government’s decision to form Special Investigation Team to probe the 2012 Thangadh police firing case and demanded a CBI inquiry.

The families had broken fast and agreed to formation of SIT, appointment of Special Public Prosecutor, setting up of Special Designated Court and Rs 2 lakh additional relief announcement by government in a meeting held in Gandhinagar couple of days back post midnight in presence of Minister of State for Home and Minister of Social Justice.

However today just within 48 hours the family members accompanied by foreign/church aided NGO Navsarjan’s activists took U-turn and said they were pressurized for compromised and it was no more accepted to them.

To protest against the government decision, the family members took part in a rally at Gandhinagar, organized under the banner of ‘Scheduled Castes Ekta Manch’ backed by activist Marti Macwan led foreign/church aided NGO Navsarjan. The rally failed to attract even one tenth of ten thousand crowd which was anticipated earlier.

They also announced that their sit-in agitation will continue at Satyagrah Chhavni area of Gandhinagar city until they “get justice”.

Talking to reporters before the rally, Manju Parmar, whose son Prakash was killed in the firing, said she has no faith in the SIT.

“We have no faith in the government-formed SIT. We want the CBI to investigate the whole case and book all those policemen involved in the firing. I believe that announcement of forming an SIT is just an eyewash by the government,” said Parmar.

On the intervening night of September 22-23, 2012, three youths– Pankaj Sumra, Prakash Parmar and Mehul Rathod– were killed when police opened fire to disperse a mob during a clash between Dalits and OBC Bharwad community members at Thangadh town in Surendranagar district.

BJP maintains stand that though there were only 6 persons named in FIR, the government has put 37 behind bar in this incident. However families are victims supported by particular NGO believe that they don’t have justice.

Mehul’s mother Jayshreeben Rathod accompanied by NGO activists said she will take the fight to Delhi if they do not get justice.

Jayshreeben’s husband Valjibhai Rathod along with some other dalits of Thangadh have been on hunger strike at Gandhinagar since last three weeks.

Couple of days back the government had called Jayshreeben, Valjibhai and others along with Navsarjan NGO’s Manjula Pradeep and another representative and agreed to form SIT, designated court, appointment of special public prosecutor and additional relief of Rs 2 lakh to each victim family.

The family members agreed to this compromise formula and broke fast. They even gave statement on video that they were satisfied.

However today they resurfaced on media and said SIT was not enough. They were pressurized. They should get CBI probe.

Navsarjan’s Manjula Pradeep today said three members of SIT should be approved by victim families. She said one among three names is not acceptable.

According to Jayshreeben, the hunger strike will continue despite government’s assurance.

“The formation of SIT is not enough. We want CBI to investigate the case. We don’t want government’s sympathy. If we don’t get justice, all the dalits will march to Delhi. We would rather die, but will not go back to Thangadh without getting justice for our sons,” said Jayshreeben.

Earlier yesterday, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani decided to constitute a three-member SIT to investigate the incident, which had taken place four years back.

It was also announced that the government would form a special court and appoint a special public prosecutor to expedite the case and announced an additional Rs 2 lakh compensation to the nearest kin of the victims, over and above what was decided earlier.

The State CID investigation into the case remained inconclusive and it filed a closure report. No charge sheet has been filed into the incident so far.

A report by Sanjay Prasad has not been made public. The state government maintains that making this report public may disturb the situation in State.

Last month then Social Justice minister Ramanlal Vora had in his statement regarding Dalits related incidents mentioned Thangadh and said: “After Thangadh incident, two ministers of Gujarat government had immediately rushed to the place of incident. Actions were taken against those responsible, and therefore Thangadh accused are in jail even today. The state government has extended total Rs 33,43,000 financial assistance to families of Thangadh victims. Benefits like monthly pension, maintenance, post death assistance, widow assistance, national social assistance are extended to them. Municipality has allotted 100 vaar plots. Assistance has been paid for construction over the plot under Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Aavas Yojana. The land for victims was allotted in Velana village as per the demand of people of Thangadh. However the victims were not ready to move. Latter another piece of land was demanded at Varmaghat in Thangadh taluka but it was forest land and therefore allotment couldn’t be possible. The state government is in process to allocate the land at Jamvadi in Thangadh taluka under survey number 409. Thus the state government has extended enough help to Thangadh incident victims.”

With inputs from agency