Patel quota stir: CID to probe 'police atrocities'

The govt said that an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh will be given to the kin of those killed in the violence

The Gujarat government has entrusted the CID with the probe into alleged "atrocities" committed by police while tackling the Patel quota stir and declared compensation to those killed and injured in the violence last week.

The government said that an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh will be given to the kin of those killed in the violence and Rs 2 lakh in the case of permanent disability while the injured will be given compensation of Rs 10,000 each.

This was stated in an affidavit filed by the government before the High Court today.

"The state government has decided to conduct a thorough, fair and impartial inquiry at the highest level into the aspects (of police atrocities) and has consequently passed an order on September 2, 2015 entrusting the inquiry to the CID (Crime)," the affidavit said.

Following the submission given by government, the division bench of the HC, comprising acting Chief Justice Jayant Patel and Justice N V Anjaria, disposed of a PIL filed by one Prakash Kapadia.

Kapadia had sought the HC's direction to government for taking appropriate steps against the police personnel who had unleashed atrocities on people after violence broke out in the state following the arrest of Patel community leader Hardik Patel on August 25.

While filing the affidavit, the government stated that it will compensate the kin of only those who were killed in police firing during the violent stir but amended its stand after the HC sought an explanation over exclusion of injured persons from ex-gratia.

The CID will investigate into the "atrocities" committed by police from August 25 when the police had stormed the venue of the rally at GMDC Ground here and lathicharged people gathered there to press for their demand for reservation, stated the affidavit filed by Joint Secretary (Home) Rahul Gupta.

As per government, nine citizens and one policeman died in the violence, while 27 people and around 203 police personnel sustained injuries while 20 of them are still in hospitals due to serious injuries.

The CID will particularly investigate with reference to the charges of high-handedness against the police personnel while entering the houses of residents, use of lathicharge and other forms of force inside the houses of citizens and causing of damage to private property of people, including damage to windscreens of cars.