The Gujarat High Court, on Monday, admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought action against policemen who were allegedly involved in the flogging of people belonging to a minority community in Junagadh, Saurashtra. The flogging reportedly took place after a stone pelting incident.
Acting Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court A.J. Desai and Justice Biren Vaishnav listed the hearing for Wednesday.
On June 16, a clash erupted when local civic authorities served a notice to demolish a dargah in the area. According to police, one person was killed in the stone pelting by the members of the minority community who were opposing the demolition.
The petition has been filed by Lok Adhikar Sangh and Minority Coordination Committee. Advocate Anand Yagnik appeared on behalf of petitioners Manoj Shrimali and Mujahid Nafees.
Nafees told THE WEEK that for half an hour, there was an argument in the court on whether it should be admitted as PIL.
The petition stated that not only were eight to ten people belonging to the minority community beaten up in public, but their homes were also ransacked “to take revenge” as some policemen were injured in the stone pelting.
The petitioners said the people from the minority community were made to stand in front of 'Geban Shah Masjid' and were flogged in public.
They sought an inquiry by the Principal and Sessions Judge, Junagadh or a very senior level judicial officer into the incident. They have alternatively demanded that a team of IPS officers of the rank of superintendent of police, not connected with Junagadh police or Junagadh district, inquire into the incident, including custodial violence and ransacking of the homes.
The video of the incident had gone viral.
Calling it a case of police brutality, the petitioners said due process of law has not been followed and called the incident a case of human rights violation.
Acting Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court A.J. Desai and Justice Biren Vaishnav listed the hearing for Wednesday.
On June 16, a clash erupted when local civic authorities served a notice to demolish a dargah in the area. According to police, one person was killed in the stone pelting by the members of the minority community who were opposing the demolition.
The petition has been filed by Lok Adhikar Sangh and Minority Coordination Committee. Advocate Anand Yagnik appeared on behalf of petitioners Manoj Shrimali and Mujahid Nafees.
Nafees told THE WEEK that for half an hour, there was an argument in the court on whether it should be admitted as PIL.
The petition stated that not only were eight to ten people belonging to the minority community beaten up in public, but their homes were also ransacked “to take revenge” as some policemen were injured in the stone pelting.
The petitioners said the people from the minority community were made to stand in front of 'Geban Shah Masjid' and were flogged in public.
They sought an inquiry by the Principal and Sessions Judge, Junagadh or a very senior level judicial officer into the incident. They have alternatively demanded that a team of IPS officers of the rank of superintendent of police, not connected with Junagadh police or Junagadh district, inquire into the incident, including custodial violence and ransacking of the homes.
The video of the incident had gone viral.
Calling it a case of police brutality, the petitioners said due process of law has not been followed and called the incident a case of human rights violation.
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