Family refuses to accept Dalit activist's body

  • | Sunday | 18th February, 2018

Mevani and Vankar’s family continued to have discussions with the state administration and the police till late in the evening. The RSS in a press release extended condolences to Vankar’s family and urged the government to “do the right thing”. Vankar’s family and community members have refused to take his body until their two major demands are met. Vankar’s post-mortem was conducted by a panel of doctors and was videographed, before the family was asked to take the body. Vankar’s family members are demanding that a statue of Vankar bet set up in the Patan collectorate.

Twenty hours after he was declared dead, the body of 61-year-old Dalit activist Bhanu Vankar continues to be in the post-mortem room of Gandhinagar civil hospital. Vankar had set himself on fire at Patan collectorate on February 15 to protest inordinate delay in granting land titles to two Dalit families from Dhadhuka village of Sami taluka in Patan. Vankar, along with Hema Vankar, a 60-year-old woman, and Rama Chamar had sent a letter to the collector, stating that they would set themselves on fire if their issues were not addressed. Vankar’s family and community members have refused to take his body until their two major demands are met. Vankar’s family members are demanding that a statue of Vankar bet set up in the Patan collectorate. They have also demanded that the families of Hema Vankar and Rama Chamar be given the title to the land for which Vankar sacrificed his life. The statue demand, though, did not figure in the final five demands presented to the state government. It should be noted that the two families have been fighting for the title to the land since 2012. Vankar was declared dead at around 9.15 pm on February 16, but his death was known to his supporters outside only at around 10.30 pm after his son broke down in front of the crowd. The police took Vankar’s body to Gandhinagar civil hospital around 11 pm where it stayed in the post-mortem room. Vankar’s post-mortem was conducted by a panel of doctors and was videographed, before the family was asked to take the body. A slew of leaders including Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani, Congress leader Shailesh Parmar, Alpesh Thakore and PAAS leader Hardik Patel came to offer their condolences to the grieving family. Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani has been with the family since February 16, when Vankar was declared dead. Hardik Patel said, “This government is ruthless. It does not care for poor people. The demands of the community are justified. But this regime continues to do injustice to farmers, the poor and dalits.” Mevani has demanded that the government needs to clarify what it plans to do with the land problem of Dalits. Mevani and Vankar’s family continued to have discussions with the state administration and the police till late in the evening. “We had a meeting with the government till 6.30 pm. We will decide the course of action if our demands are not met till 7 pm. It is just a question of determination. If the government wants, it can determine things at a moment’s notice,” said Mevani. He also threatened to block SG Highway and said that if revenue minister Kaushik Patel did not pay heed to the situation, he would not be allowed to step into Vadaj area. Mevani had earlier in the day said that they would call for a band in Gujarat. The RSS in a press release extended condolences to Vankar’s family and urged the government to “do the right thing”. Earlier more than 100 cops were deployed for bandobast in and around Gandhinagar civil hospital. During the day, roadblocks were reported from Moribi and Palanpur and there were reports of Dalit organisations calling for a bandh in Banaskantha district. Bus services on the road leading from Unjha to Patan, Visnagar and Mehsana were also halted, although no official confirmation could be had. HOW THE EVENTS UNFOLDED ON FEB 16-17 FRIDAY 9.30 pm: Bhanu Vankar’s death declared to family 10.30 pm: Son arrives, breaks down, crowd outside knows of his death 11-11.30 pm: Cops take Vankar’s body to Gandhinagar civil hospital, his family follows SATURDAY 6.30 am: Crowd begins to arrive outside post-mortem room where body is kept 11 am: Post-mortem is concluded and body is handed over to family. who refuse to accept it 11.30 pm: Hardik comes to meet the grieving family 12 pm: Range IG RB Brahmbhatt comes to have a talk with family, they refuse 12.30 pm: Protesters try to block the road outside civil hospital, but hot weather plays spoiler 1.30 pm: Family relents, talks with Range IG, SP and additional chief secretary. Nothing materialises 1.30-6 pm: Backroom talks continue, Mevani threatens to shut down SG Highway 7 pm: Protesters begin to forcefully shut down SG Highway 7.30 pm: Deputy CM holds press conference, says family’s demands met

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