Shwetang’s funeral held amid tight security

The mother of Shwetang Patel is comforted during the funeral procession in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Photo: Vijay Soneji

The funeral of 32-year-old Shwetang Patel, who allegedly died in police custody, was held in Ahmedabad on Sunday, amid tight security.

The pyre was lit by his mother and sister as his father is ailing.

The Gujarat High Court has ordered a CID (Crime) probe into Shwetang’s death, which as per the autopsy report, was caused by injuries to the brain.

Ahead of the funeral, the State government had transferred two police inspectors of Bapunagar area as per the High Court direction.

On Saturday, the police lodged an FIR against nine cops in the alleged custodial death case while handing over the probe to the CID (Crime). Shwetang, son of a bed-ridden ex-textile mill worker, was allegedly picked up by the cops on Tuesday night and declared dead when they brought him to a municipal hospital. Police claimed he was part of a mob which went on the rampage when quota agitation leader Hardik Patel was briefly held.

His mother approached the court seeking a detailed and impartial inquiry.