Police used AK-47 against Dalits, says affidavit

An affidavit filed by the police in a court in Surendranagar district says that a police team used AK-47 assault rifle, among other weapons, to fire on protesters from a Dalit community at Thangadh on September 23.

Three youths had died in the incident.
Inspector General of Police Anil Pratham told PTI that “one AK-47 rifle was used in the firing, in addition to a carbine gun, a revolver and a .303 rifle”.

The weapons which the police carried at the time had been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar to ascertain if they were fired or not, he added.

Superintendent of Police R S Bhagora told PTI that the affidavit, submitted to Limbdi Additional Sessions Court in Surendranagar on November 6, opposes the anticipatory bail plea of Thangadh Sub-Inspector K P Jadeja and three other policemen, who are accused in the case and are absconding.