High Court Orders Probe In Man's Death After Gujarat Clashes

Hardik Patel has demanded that the family of each victim be given 30 lakh in compensation and has accused the police of using excessive force on protesters.

Ahmedabad:  The Gujarat High Court has ordered an investigation by the state’s CID into the death of a 32-year-old man, Shwetang Patel, whose family alleges he died in police custody on Tuesday in Ahmedabad, as violence gripped the city after the brief detention of 22-year-old politician Hardik Patel.

Shwetang Patel’s family has moved court alleging that he was picked up by the police from around his residence on Tuesday night. The next morning they were told that he had died. Studying the family’s plea, the court noted that the death ‘looked homicidal’.

“When we went to the police station, they told us that he had been admitted to a hospital and wanted me to sign on a blank paper. I refused to do that, but later I was taken to hospital and was shown his body. I want justice for my son,” Shwetang’s mother told NDTV, sobbing inconsolably. The family says that Shwetang was not an activist nor was he protesting alongside Hardik Patel.



 

His family says that Shwetang was not an activist nor was he protesting alongside Hardik Patel.

The police however allege that Shwetang Patel was part of a mob involved in arson in the Bapunagar area.  They have also said it is unclear how he died.

As news spread late on Tuesday evening that Hardik Patel – the face of a massive agitation for reservation in government jobs and colleges for the Patel community in Gujarat – had been detained, violence erupted in Ahmedabad and other parts of Gujarat.

Enraged supporters of Hardik Patel clashed with the police and allegedly ransacked and set fire to public property. Eight people, including a policeman, were killed in the state; four people allegedly in police firing.

Hardik Patel has demanded that the family of each victim be given Rs 30 lakh in compensation and has accused the police of using excessive force on protesters.



 



In CCTV footage,  police officers are seen vandalising vehicles parked in residential areas.

The Gujarat High Court has on a petition, issued summons to Gujarat’s Home Secretary to explain allegations of police excesses.

Curfew was imposed in parts of Ahmedabad and other cities and on Wednesday, the Army was called in to restore law and order.