The Supreme Court issued a notice and admitted a petition filed by Raees Ahmed Patel, father of Saud Patel, who was reportedly shot down by the police in the Dhule riots earlier this year. The petition demands a CBI probe into the alleged unlawful killings, prosecution of the “guilty” officers and “stringent operation procedures” for recruitment to ensure independent functioning of the state police.
The petition came up before Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar and Justice Fakkir Ibrahim Kalifulla on September 10.
Advocates Aparna Bhat and Ramesh Pukhrambam appeared for the petitioners.
The Mumbai-based Citizens for Justice and Peace are co-petitioners in the writ petition with other eyewitnesses and residents of Dhule. It prays “for the implementation of a well-crafted ‘Hate Crimes Manual’ that deals with institutionalised prejudice against religious minorities, Dalits, adivasis and women within the police that specifically deters its non-partisan functioning”. The petition also seeks more compensation and reparation to the dead, injured and those whose homes have been destroyed.
The Asian Age had on February 13 reported that key notes in an inquiry report submitted by the Maharashtra police to the state government had revealed that the police operating during the Dhule riots on January 6 had opened fire at the rioting mob in excess. The report also revealed that the firing was primarily done to protect a few top local police officials. Earlier, on January 29 this newspaper had also reported that after the interim report submitted by the DSP, the state government had suspended those caught rioting on video.
On January 6, 2013 a brawl over a payment of a hotel bill between members of two communities, in communally-sensitive Dhule had blown out of proportion.