Governor rebuffs murdered dalit soldier's parents

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat governor O P Kohli refused an appointment to the parents of slain dalit soldier Dinesh Rathod, who want to meet him to return their son's gallantry awards. The parents were intent on this 'award-wapsi' to protest the inaction of the government in arraigning the men accused of their son's murder.
Jethiben Rathod and Janabhai Rathod, residents of Karadi village of Sayla taluka in Surendranagr district, have been protesting at Pathikashram Chhavni in Gandhinagar since September 25 and began an indefinite fast on October 10, to press their demands for a CBI investigation in this case.
On October 4, Janabhai sought an appointment with Kohli to present their demands and also to return his son's bravery awards. The governor's office wrote to the family on October 15: "Your appointment with the governor shri could not be fixed hence it is regretted." Dinesh, the recipient of four army medals, was shot dead by members of the Kathi darbar community in his village after the soldier had told them not to gamble near his house in March 2010. Five persons were booked in the case but all of them were let off for want of evidence.
Jethiben said that the after the Gujarat government, even the governor has disappointed them. "We have sought permission to meet the governor as the government was not listening to our demands. The accused persons in my son's murder case have made our life hell in the village. We have been facing so many problems and now that the governor has refused to meet us, we are clueless about what to do," Jethiben told TOI.