In what appears to be an attempt to pacify Dalits who continue to protest atrocities against them, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered setting up of a special investigation team to probe the death of three Dalit youths in police firing in Thangadh in 2012.
The government’s move to set up the SIT, headed by Rajkot police commissioner Anupan Singh Gahlot, has apparently pre-empted a rally planned by Dalit groups and families of the victims on August 21 in the State capital to seek justice for the victims, who were all below 18 at the time of the incident.
In a late night press release on Friday, junior Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja said besides setting up an SIT, the government would also pay Rs. 20 lakh as additional compensation to the families of the victims. Though the State government had set an inquiry committee, it is yet to table its report.
