Tribal man kills self over ‘police harassment’, triggers protest in Gujarat’s Bharuch; ‘suicide note’ names 3 cops

Vasava’s family members found the suicide note, written in Gujarati, in his pocket. The note, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, named Nabipur Police Inspector M K Parmar and head constables Rajendra Sinh and Sandeepbhai.

Late on Friday night, Vasava’s body was taken to Bharuch Civil Hospital by the police. On Saturday, a large number of tribal people from Kavitha and neighbouring villages gathered at the hospital to collect the body for cremation. They protested outside the hospital demanding action against the three policemen.

On Saturday, Vasava’s daughter Hiraben lodged a complaint against the three policemen with the Nabipur police, following which they registered an offence under section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sections of the SC/ST Act. Bharuch Deputy Superintendent of Police C K Patel had started an investigation.

C K Patel, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bharuch, said, “Kirtan Vasava was earlier arrested in two cases of prohibition and gambling. Nabipur police had seized his car in the prohibition case…. We have registered an offence against the three policemen and started investigation.”

In the purported suicide note, Vasava accused the policemen of harassing him over a “false” case. “I was selling liquor earlier but stopped four months ago. They took a forceful confession from me, made a case and seized my car, which they are not releasing. They come home regularly and use abusive language in the presence of my wife, sister and daughter. A couple of times, I went with them to the police station,” the note read.

It went on, “They wanted me to continue illegal liquor sales. They regularly demand money and threaten me, even though I stopped the illegal activity. I am fed up and have no hope… Nobody should harass my family after my death. This suicide note should reach the Bharuch Superintendent of Police and strict action should be taken against M K Parmar, Sandeep and Rajendra Sinh.”

BJP, Congress demand justice

Meanwhile, Gujarat Congress leader Sandeep Mangrola wrote to the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) in New Delhi, seeking strict action against the accused and compensation for the tribal man’s family.

Bharuch MP Mansukh Vasava uploaded the purported suicide note on social media on Saturday morning. He also reached out to the community to pacify them. Arunsinh Rana, the MLA from Vagra, visited the hospital. Both BJP leaders met the family members of the deceased in the afternoon and assured all possible help.

The MP said, “Parmar and the two policemen have entered many homes in the area, destroyed household items and left. Around one month ago, they disrupted a wedding function in the family of district panchayat member Bhavnaben Vasava in Nikora village. They even damaged household items at the house of the sarpanch in Angareshwar village. We complained to the Bharuch SP about Parmar and his team one month ago. If steps were taken against them back then, Kirtan Vasava would not have died by suicide.”

“Fed up with police harassment, a tribal man has ended his life. We want strict action, including the suspension of these policemen,” he added.

MLA Rana extended support to the victim’s family and said, “The incident is painful… We want these policemen to be dismissed from the job, and an example should be set so that in future, no policemen would dare to do such things. We are sure the government will listen to us and act appropriately.”