Than police firing: Victims’ parents demand speedy probe,threaten fast

Parents of the three Dalit youths,who were killed in last month’s police firing at Thangadh,on Friday threatened to stage a fast-unto-death if the investigations into the case are not handed over to the CBI and the probe completed within a month as per the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad Valjibhai Rathod,the father of 18-year-old Mehul,who was killed by a bullet to the chest,said,“We understand this kind of probe takes time but we expect investigations to conclude within a month. Otherwise we will embark on a fast-unto-death to press for our demands.” Rathod was accompanied by the parents of Prakash Parmar (24) and Pankaj Sumara (16).

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The families of the deceased also demanded 24-hour police protection for themselves,an FIR should be lodged against those who shot at Chana Vaniya,the fourth victim of the police firing who was seriously injured,and action against Surendranagar and Jamnagar DSPs Raghvendra Vatsa and H K Patel as well as Surendranagar DySP C R Kotad.

They also demanded a separate investigation into matter by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The families were brought to the city by Navsarjan,a non-profit working on Dalit issues,to address the mediapersons.