Patidars accuse Surat police of torture in custody

When some of the youths showed the injuries they had received to the court, the magistrate ordered the police to provide medical treatment to them and bring them back to the court at 3 pm.

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Surat: Army soldiers conduct flag march in a sensitive area in Surat on Thursday after the incidents of violence following the Patel (Patidar) community’s reservation rally. (Source: PTI)

Twenty-three Patidar youths, arrested for rioting, arson, trespass and other sections under the IPC, accused the Surat police of torture when they were produced before a magisterial court Friday. The 23 had been arrested from Sarthana following the brief detention of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel, which sparked riots in the area.

When some of the youths showed the injuries they had received to the court, the magistrate ordered the police to provide medical treatment to them and bring them back to the court at 3 pm.

While two of them were admitted to New Civil hospital, the rest were remanded in judicial custody and sent to Surat District Central Jail.

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On Saturday, as many as 10 lawyers were present to defend the accused in court.

However, the court rescheduled the hearing in the case for Monday after the jailor of Surat district central jail sent a report to the magistrate, saying they could not send the accused to court because they did not have enough police personnel.

“Police beat up all Patidars in custody. They intentionally imposed some sections that are non-bailable… Jail officials did not produce the arrested youths before court Saturday as their injury marks will heal in two days,” defense lawyer Y B Wala claimed.

A police official, however, claimed that due to Raksha Bandhan, police staff had been deployed across the city and jail authorities did not have adequate police force to bring the accused to court.

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The police also claimed that when they went to pick up the alleged rioters from their residence, they attacked the officials and the police had to use force to take them to the police station.

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