CID probe ordered into Thangadh killings

Police sub-inspector of Thangadh town was also suspended today following clashes between Dalits and Bharwad (shepherd) community members after the Tarnetar fair near the town in Surendranagar district, they said.

The members reportedly clashed over some issue after the fair concluded on the night of September 22.

"The state CID has been asked to conduct a detailed probe into the incident of police firing, which claimed the lives of three youths. We have also suspended PSI K P Jadeja," Rajkot Range IG Pravin Sinha said.

The Gujarat government has also announced Rs 2 lakh compensation each to the family members of the deceased, who were killed in the police firing.

Four victims, including the three deceased -- Pankaj Sumra, Prakash Parmar and Mehul Rathod -- had sustained serious bullet injuries in the police firing at Thangadh, when police opened fire to disperse a violent mob.

The clashes broke out when both the groups attacked each other with iron pipes and sticks. When the situation went out out control, PSI K P Jadeja ordered firing in which four persons were injured, police said.

The police had initially resorted to lathicharge and then fired tear gas shells, they said.

When the violence continued, police fired in the air in which one Dalit died on the spot, while three others received injuries. The injured Dalits were rushed to Rajkot civil hospital, where two of them succumbed, they said.

Irked by the incident, Dalit members refused to accept the bodies of the deceased.

When the situation turned tense, Gujarat's Minister for Social Justice Fakirbhai Vaghela and Minister for Education Ramanlal Vora rushed to the hospital and promised action against the police officials following which the Dalits accepted the body of the deceased this morning.

In view of the violent clashes, security has been stepped up in Thangadh town, police said.