Surat: Out of 15 people caught in an inebriated condition, 10 were found to be from the Patel community. “This is something to think about. I feel so much pain seeing this,” said Urvashi Mendpara, a female sub-inspector of Sarthana Police Station, during an event in Surat. The video of the lady cop expressing grief over the issue of addiction in her own community went viral on social media.

Saurashtra Patel Seva Samaj organises a thought-sowing programme every Thursday in Sarthana, inviting different speakers to address the audience. As part of this initiative, Urvashi Mendpara, a female cop from the Patel community (originally from Bhutia village, Bhavnagar district), participated in the event. Expressing concern over the rising involvement of Patel youth in drug abuse, she stated, “I tell you about Sarthana Police Station (Area). In the evening, when we are on patrol to find people in an intoxicated condition and file cases, if we catch 15 intoxicated boys, 10 of them are from the Patel community. This is something to think about, and I feel sad. Then people come and say, ‘Madam, you are yourself Patel; please understand.’ I get angrier at this, and I don’t free them, as spending a night in police custody could serve as a deterrent for drug addicts, making them think twice before indulging again.”

“Why do you do this? If you have money, use it for good work. Even in cyber fraud cases, 50% of the accused are from the Patel community. Why go down this path? The Patel community has earned such a good name—why take it toward downfall? Others also tell me, ‘Madam, the accused are from the Patel community,’ and I feel ashamed. This is something to think about.”

The event was attended by Kokilaben Navapara, Jayshreeben Bhalala, Varshaben Tragadia, Amitaben Desai, and Vinaben Patel of the Saurashtra Patel Seva Samaj Women’s Wing. DeshGujarat

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