A habeas corpus petition was filed in the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday, seeking the producing of Hardik Patel before the court.
The Gujarat Police on Tuesday claimed that Hardik Patel “disappeared” from a meeting in north Gujarat.
“The police claim that he escaped the police and disappeared but we are apprehending that the police have arrested him and is not disclosing,” said a key member of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), the outfit Hardik floated to launch agitation seeking reservation benefits for the dominant Patel community in Gujarat.
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The Ahmedabad police on Tuesday detained Chirag Patel, a key aide of Mr. Hardik Patel, and two others before they were to hold a press conference.
Chirag had contested Assembly polls against Anandiben Patel in 2012. Chirag was a candidate of Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP), a political outfit floated by the former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel.
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In Surat, the police have reportedly arrested Alpesh Patel and others, who were involved in organising the ‘Ekta Yatra’ last Saturday.
‘He’s a criminal’
Meanwhile, a top police officer of Gujarat described Mr. Hardik Patel as a “criminal” and said police teams were looking for him.
“He was holding the meeting without police permission and when the police reached at the venue, he disappeared. We are looking for him,” said Gandhinagar range IG Hasmukh Patel. “He is a criminal, not a leader of any community or any agitation. He is trying to instigate people to turn violent in the name of agitation.”
Mr. Hardik Patel, on Monday, alleged that the State administration was trying to break his agitation by “implicating its leaders in false police cases.”
“We are prepared to be sacrificed for the interests of the Patel community,” Mr. Hardik Patel had said.