Rajkot: Following the death of a second person allegedly tortured in the lock-up while in the custody of Mundra police, tension is brewing among the Gadhvi community members in Kutch who are demanding swift action in arresting the accused in the case.
While Harjog Gadhvi (22) succumbed during treatment in Ahmedabad civil hospital on Saturday evening, the first victim, Arjan Gadhvi (28) had died on January 19 inside the police lock up. Both deceased were labourers and belonged to Samaghogha village near Mundra.
Miffed member of the community have given a call for Mundra bandh on Monday and have also threatened to boycott the upcoming local body elections.
Harjog was allegedly picked up by police on January 16, four days after Ajran was arrested. He was first admitted to a local hospital where his condition deteriorated and had to be sent to Ahmedabad civil hospital, where he succumbed.
Meanwhile, in a fresh twist to the case, the president of the Gadhvi community, Vijay Gadhvi, has alleged that former sarpanch of the village, Jayvirsinh Jadeja is involved in the death case. “Jadeja wanted possession of the village land on which the Gadvis are cultivating crops. The police acted on behalf of the former sarpanch and he too tortured these two victims in the police lock up,” alleged Gadhvi.
According to the locals, around 45 to 50 years ago, Jadeja’s family had sold off this plot of land to the fathers of the deceased. However, they did not complete the documentation work.
“The dispute on ownership of land arose when the Narmada canal passed through this land and the government announced compensation for the loss of land. The Darbars then claimed that the land parcel is theirs on revenue record. The compensation too could not be released because of ownership dispute,” Gadhvi explained.
He accused the police of not only allowing the former sarpanch to beat up the accused in custody, but also forcing the victims to end the land dispute in favour of Jadeja. “The victims were wrongly farmed in a theft case. There is nothing recovered of what was allegedly missing in the theft,” Gadhvi added.
The police have already lodged an FIR after the death of Arjan and arrested inspector J A Pahdiyar and Viral Joshi a GRD constable. The other five cops including Ashok Kannad, Shaktisinh Gohil, Jaidevsinh Zala are still on the run. Even the accused former sarpanch Jayvirsinh Jadeja is still at large.
Saurabh Singh, SP Kutch (west) told TOI, “This fresh information about a land dispute between the former sarpanch and the Gadhvi youths, surfaced two days ago. This wasn’t mentioned in the FIR. We are investigating this angle now and will hopefully nab the accused soon.”
Box:
45K Gadhvis to gather in Samaghoga today
Nearly 45,000 population of Gadhvis in Kutch, living in all the taluks in Mundra, Mandvi and Abdasa taluka, will gather in Samaghogha village on Monday to protest the custodial deaths. The community along with members of other communities including the Rajput, Maheshwari, Rabari and Muslim community have given the call for Mundra bandh on Monday. MLA Abdasa, Pradhyumansinh Jadeja, too has shot off a letter to the chief minister and home minister requesting the immediate arrest of all the accused.
Heavy police bandobust
The police department too has geared up to meet any exigencies during the bandh call in Mundra on Monday. The members of the Gadhvi community has asked all other communities to support them and protest the alleged police tourture. Meanwhile, body of Harjog is expected to arrive the village on Monday for last rites which may further fuel the simmering tempers.