Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani detained for highlighting killing of Dalits

The Gujarat police on Tuesday stopped independent MLA Jignesh Mevani and a group of his supporters from taking out a protest procession to the state secretariat, Gandhinagar demanding an investigation into a Dalit RTI activist who was brutally murdered at his home earlier this month in Bhavnagar.

Earlier, Mevani was evicted from the ongoing Assembly for raising this case demanding action against the culprits and highlight the plight of Dalits in the state.

"This is not just about one incident. There are at least four other activists who are facing death threats for working for the Dalit community's betterment. I fear that they might be killed like the one in Bhavnagar. The government has police to detain hundreds of our activist brothers, but can't deploy the same force for the protection of those who have been facing threats," Mevani told DH minutes before he started a procession.

Mevani and over three dozen supporters were bundled into a bus and a jeep outside the MLA quarters in the state capital. Among the protesters were the family member of Amar Barocha, 50, who was killed at his home in Sanodar, Ghogha taluka in Bhavnagar on March 3.

According to the FIR, a group of ten persons, all from upper caste Kshatriya, barged into his house and attacked him with spears, iron pipes and swords.

The FIR states that Barocha had been attacked previously also and in January this year local Ghogha police had provided two Gramin Rakshak Dal (GRD) jawans in his security. GRD jawans are recruited locally by district police for assistance.

The family members have alleged that Barocha had sought armed police protection fearing his life but the local police sub-inspector P R Solanki didn't heed his pleas. An FIR has been registered against Solanki for negligence and section of atrocity act. Senior officials said that Solanki has been suspended and has challenged it in the high court. The victim's family members have been demanding his arrest.

"With regard to the investigation into PSI Solanki, it is a work in progress. As far as the murder case is concerned, we have almost completed the probe. All the ten accused were arrested within three days of the incident. We will file the charge sheet very soon," said Deputy Superintendent of Police D V Kodiyatar who is investigating the case.

A senior police officer said that a special public prosecutor has also been appointed to try this case.

Mevani claimed he is trying to highlight the plight of Dalits in the state who are being killed for working for the betterment of the community. "There are at least four activists whose lives are in danger. They have given in writing that they may be killed. They are Nil Vinjura from Rapad, Kirti Chavda from Botad, Mahesh Makwana from Kodinar and Kiran Parmar in Banaskantha."

Previously, Manjibhai Solanki, a Dalit deputy sarpanch of Jalila village in Botad, was killed by a group of upper-caste men. He had also feared his life and had sought police protection. Similarly, 19-year-old Rajesh Sondarva was hacked to death by upper caste Kshatriya men.

It was found in the probe found that two of the accused were the ones who had murdered his father Nanji. He was killed for opposing bail of his father's suspected killers and refusal for a compromise. These incidents have happened in the last two years.