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Dalit Bahujan Adivasi Politics

Jignesh Mevani demanded suspension of policeman involved in murder of Dalit activist

He was evicted from the Gujarat Assembly after he repeatedly interrupted the address of a BJP Minister, demanding arrest and suspension of the sub-inspector

Image Courtesy:siasat.com

Jignesh Mewani, Independent MLA of Gujarat Assembly has demanded the arrest of the sub-inspector accused of killing Dalit RTI activist in Sanodar village, Bhavnagar district. Boricha was was hacked to death, allegedly by a group of Kshatriya men, in his home allegedly in the presence of a local PSI.

Mevani paid the price of repeatedly demanding suspension and arrest of the sub-inspector, as he was suspended from the Assembly. He sought an answer from Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja on why the sub-inspector was not being arrested.

Congress MLAs had staged a walkout from the Assembly after heated arguments with BJP members over law and order issue in the state, claiming that several cities are still known by “local dons”. This left Mewani as the the only person representing opposition. When Jadeja started his address. Mewani repeatedly interrupted him and sought to know why a police sub-inspector (PSI) allegedly involved in the murder of a Dalit man has not been arrested so far. Thereafter, the Speaker asked sergeants to evict him.

About the attack

Boricha, a 50-year-old farmer, had given a complaint, about a month ago, at Ghogha police station against Kshatriyas but the FIR was not filed. Boricha had thus approached the court.

Boricha’s daughter, Nirmala, who was also injured in the attack described the incident to media persons, “First they threw stones on us. As my father rushed inside the house for safety, the assailants broke the gate, barged in and attacked my father with spears, iron pipes and swords, killing him”.

“Around 50 members of Darbars (Kshatriyas) of our village passed by our home playing DJ music when my father and I were standing outside. They returned a while later and started throwing stones on us. We have police protection, yet they managed to barge in with spears, axes, pipes and swords,” she added. Nirmala said that her father was also attacked back in 2013, and when his leg was broken.

The incident took place on March 2, around 4.30 PM but Indian Express reported that no FIR was registered until 10.30 PM at least, and their phone calls to PSI Solanki, Bhavnagar SP and Bhavnagar IG went unanswered.

A report by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative indicates that so far 90 people, who have sought information under Right to Information (RTI) Act have been murdered in the country; 185 have been threatened or harassed and 173 have been assaulted.

Related:

Dalit RTI activist hacked to death in Gujarat
The Question of Bahujan Women
Hathras: Man accused of sexual assault, shoots father outside village temple

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