No police action taken in Dalit atrocity case filed in Gujarat village

It seems the Sanand police are taking the issue either too lightly or they lack the willingness to act. The Dalits of Goraj village in Sanand had filed an atrocity case with the police in October first week and expected a fair investigation in the same. But the police are yet to take any action on the two complaints filed on the same issue.

Kalpesh Dabhi, one of the victims of the atrocity caused by the upper caste people in Goraj on October 4, told DNA the police are not at all interested in investigating their case. "Since we filed the complaint, the police have not recorded a single statement of ours till date," he said. It seems the cops are under someone's pressure to not follow the regular procedure, Dabhi alleged.

There were several other Dalits, along with Dabhi, who were wounded during the tussle. "We have mentioned the names of 109 people. However, the police have not questioned even a single person in the matter," said another victim, Mehul Makwana.

Many Dalit families have shifted out of Goraj following harassment by the upper caste people in the village. "If the police do not act, where should we go? We have no option left than to leave our village," said Gautam Vankar, another victim.

While one complaint was filed by the Dalits on October 1, the other was filed on October 4.

The investigating officer in the case, MM Malek, was transferred to Vadodara a few days ago. He told DNA that he had been transferred and was no longer responsible for the investigations. Malek was investigating the case filed on October 4.

The new investigating officer, KV Savani, who took the charge over a week before, told DNA that the accused in the case are absconding and "we will arrest them very soon".

Savani also said he took charge just before a few days and will take prompt action in this regard.