The Gujarat Government on Saturday announced setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing of three Dalit youths in Thangadh town of Surendranagar district in September 2012.
Three Dalit youths Pankaj Sumra, Prakash Parmar and Mehul Rathod, were allegedly killed in police firing, after two groups — Dalits and OBC Bharwads — clashed at Thangadh over placement of stalls at a fair.
Though there have been couple of investigations into the incident, no headway has been achieved in the case till date. Even the report submitted to the Principal Secretary of Social Justice and Empowerment Department, has not been made public. A CID investigation into the case too remains inconclusive and no chargesheet has been filed yet. This led the families of the victims to sit on a fast for the last 19 days in Gandhinagar, demanding a judicial or a CBI probe into the killings. Now, the State Government has also announced an additional financial compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the family of deceased. The Government has also announced its intent to form a special designated court and appoint a Special Public Prosecutor for the case.
“The Chief Minister took the decision following representations from Dalit leaders including Cabinet Minister Atmaram Parmar, former Minister Ramanlal Vora and Rajya Sabha MP Shambhuprasad Tundiya,” a State Government release said quoting Pradeepsinh Jadeja, Minister of State for Home.
“We are satisfied with the decision taken by the State Government and have decided to call off our fast,” Valjibhai, father of one of the victims said.
The Gujarat Government’s decision comes on the wake of rising Dalit anger against the BJP in the State, especially after handling of the now infamous July 11 Una Dalit public flogging incident and violence that followed Dalit Asmita rally that saw Dalits from across the State gather at Una on August 15 to seek action against culprits of Una.