Patidar stir: Surat court acquits 3 youths accused of assaulting cops

The arrest pertains to the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samithi movement spearheaded by Hardik Patel.

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The three accused — Subhashbhai Chaturbhai Vora (25), his brother Hardikbhai Chaturbhai Vora (24) and Bharatbhai Kechhadiya (40) — all residents of Sudama Chowk were arrested on August 27. (Reprsentational Image)

The Surat District Court has acquitted three youths for allegedly assaulting three police personnel, including an inspector, and snatching away a service revolver during a Patidar agitation for reservation in 2015 in Surat.

“The accused are not directly or indirectly involved in the offence. The prosecution has failed to establish presence of the accused in the mob, assault on the police officials, snatching a police inspector service revolver, damaging the police vehicles or obstructing police men to do their duties. The accused were arrested from their homes and not from the spot,” Principal session judge A I Rawal stated in an order Monday. He noted that the missing service revolver of the police inspector has not been recovered from the accused.

The arrest pertains to the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samithi movement spearheaded by Hardik Patel. On August 25, 2015, Hardik was arrested by Ahmedabad police for taking out a rally.

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A day later, police inspector H S Purani and his team were patrolling in the Amroli area of Surat when they spotted a mob of nearly 1,500-2,000 youths gathered at Sudama Chowk chanting slogans against the government condemning Hardik’s arrest.

Despite Purani’s instruction to disperse, some of the youths allegedly assaulted him and snatched away his service revolver. They also allegedly assaulted two other cops and damaged police vehicles, as per the case details. Later, more staff reached the spot and dispersed the mob.

Subsequently, a complaint was lodged by Purani at the Amroli police station against the mob under various sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Damage on Public Property Act.

The three accused — Subhashbhai Chaturbhai Vora (25), his brother Hardikbhai Chaturbhai Vora (24) and Bharatbhai Kechhadiya (40) — all residents of Sudama Chowk were arrested on August 27.

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All the three accused were released on bail after seven days from Surat central jail. While search was on for the remaining accused, no subsequent arrest was made in the case.

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