Kheda 'Flogging' Of Muslim Men: Victims Refused To Accept Monetary Compensation From Cops, Gujarat HC Informed

Five Muslim men, allegedly beaten by the Police in Gujarat’s Kheda district last year, have refused to accept monetary compensation from the four policemen facing contempt of court charges, the Gujarat High Court was informed on Monday. Appearing before a bench of Justice AS Supehia and Justice Gita Gopi, Senior Advocate Prakash Jani appearing for the accused policemen informed the Bench that the cops had met the victims and their advocate wherein they refused to accept any monetary compensation. Taking note of the same, the division bench adjourned the hearing till Thursday and conveyed to the parties that it would be passing orders in the matter on that day. It may be noted that the five victims were beaten up by policemen from the Matar Police Station in Kheda district last year. The Police action was allegedly in the aftermath of the communal clash in Undhela village situated in Matar Taluka of Kheda district. It was alleged that some intruders pelted stones at the crowd during Navratri celebrations. At least 40 persons were arrested in the incident. Following this, the family members of the victims moved to the High Court seeking contempt of court action against the policemen for the violation of Apex Court’s guidelines against custodial torture issued in the case of DK Basu vs. State of West Bengal. In January this year, the Gujarat Government submitted before the High Court that it had found 5 policemen, including a police inspector, prima facie guilty in connection with the case of flogging. In July this year, the HC ordered the Nadiad CJM to analyze the pen drives and other electronic evidence including videos relating to the incident and identify the erring cops. In August this year, the concerned CJM Chitra Ratnoo submitted a report to the Gujarat High Court identifying 4 of the 14 policemen accused in the incident. Following this, on October 4, the Division bench ordered framing contempt charges against a Local Crime Branch Inspector (AV. Parmar), Sub-Inspector (D.B. Kumavat), Head Constable (Kanaksingh Laxman Singh) and a Constable (Raju Rameshbhai Dabhi).

Kheda 'Flogging' Of Muslim Men: Victims Refused To Accept Monetary Compensation From Cops, Gujarat HC Informed

Sparsh Upadhyay

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