Dalit immolation | Gujarat govt to form SIT; Jignesh Mevani's supporters block S-G Highway

Gujarat government on Saturday accepted all the demands made by Bhanubhai Parmar's family after he set himself on fire on Thursday.  An SIT has been set up to probe the incident, it was reported on Saturday evening, minutes after activists blocked the S-G Highway.

All pending cases of similar nature to be examined and ownership will be granted to the families, it was reported and the state government will also bear all medical treatment expenses of Parmar.

The move comes after Dalit activists led by Jignesh Mevani blocked the Sarkhei-Gandhinagar Highway after they did not receive answers from the central and state governments over the immolation of Dalit leader Bhanubhai Parmar on Saturday. 

A police barricade were used by the protesters to block the roads. The protesters even lay on the road to block traffic. 

Meanwhile, the ST depot circle was blocked by Jignesh Mevani and his protestors after there was no response from the government. People were then forcefully taken away by the police.

Earlier, Mevani had threatened that his supporters would shut down the Sarkhej–Gandhinagar Highway if they did not receive answers regarding why Parmar committed suicide and why two Dalit families did not receive land.

Mevani has given the state and central government a 7 pm deadline for answers, following which they would stage the protest.

On Thursday, Dalit activist Bhanubhai Vankar set himself on fire outside the collectorate after failing to secure land for two Dalit families who had been doing the rounds of the revenue department to get land ownership transferred in their name.

Following his suicide, Mevani and other Dalit leaders in the state called for a Patan bandh, and on Friday, Mevani took out a rally in Patan.

Bhanu bhai Parmar is no more. He sacrificed his life for a piece of land of a poor dalit. Will Primer Minister open his mouth?

— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) February 17, 2018

The shops which saw little business in the morning had to pull down the shutters as Mevani's rally came out on the street. The Rupani-led government should be ashamed of itself after a man had to set himself on fire to get his woes heard, Mevani said.

"Bhanubhai Vankar was not fighting for his own land. He was fighting to get the land for two families. They approached the administration several times but did not get any responses," alleged Mevani.

He said they would continue to press for their demand for land for all landless Dalits and if it wasn't met they would continue with the agitation. Heavy police bandobast was put in place for Mevani's rally. Mevani and others also demanded suspension of police inspector Jayvirsinh Parmar, apart from placing before the administration a list of demands.

Mevani later also met Patan Collector Anand Patel and had heated discussion. He asked the collector to submit in writing how soon the land problem of the two families could be resolved. "A man burnt himself to get justice for two families and you still can't even guarantee that they will get land," said Mevani.

When the collector said that the matter of allotting land was no more in his hands but with the revenue department Mevani asked if he could ensure that landless Dalits would be given land as that was within his purview. Later, Patan MLA Kirit Patel and Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi also joined in the meeting seeking strict action against officials of the revenue department on whose account the matter was stuck for so long.

Locals alleged that the two families of Dhudhka village were the only one who was to get their land regularised while those from other caste had already got it done.

Three who threatened self-immolation went into hiding. The administration and police, immediately after they received a letter from the three (Hema Vankar, Rama Chamaar and Bhanu Vankar) threatening self-immolation, said they were looking for them.