Saurashtra topcop 'threatens' Dalit builder his mustache would be forcibly plucked

Atul Chavda, an Amreli-based Dalit builder from Saurashtra, has complained to the director-general of police, Gujarat, that a senior police official of Amreli, an ASP, has used "derogatory words" against him on April 8 in front of the Circuit House, saying, "Police have to be very alert with Dalits having mustaches. I know pretty well how to pull out your mustaches."
The ASP is further quoted as objecting the Dalit builder having a golden chain around his neck, a golden bracelet on his hand and golden rings on his fingers, telling him, "Bring the bill of the jewellery you have put on, and take away your bike standing here." He allegedly said this after he was told that he was a Dalit on inquiring whether he belonged to the Rajput darbar community.
The whole episode at the Circuit House took place, the complaint to the DGP said, after the Dalit builder went to the spot to pick up his motorbike, which he had left there for a while, as he had to go to a social function in a car. When he returned, he was inquired as to why did leave his bike at the Circuit House, which, he was told, was not allowed during election time.
A copy of the complaint, which demanded legal action against the police official, has been sent to state home minister Pradipsinh Jadeja.

Meanwhile, Bharata Parmar, a Saurashtra-based Dalit rights leader close to well-known Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, who is an independent MLA, was detained ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi arriving in Junagadh to address an election rally. Bringing this to light, Mevani has claimed, Parmar has been detained because he has been highlighting half-dozen local issues agitating the people.
The issues include investigation into Rs 50-crore scam involving Bantwa Khara dam in Manavadar taluka of Junagadh district, failure to pay Rs 5.99 crore to four villages adjacent to Bantwa, which were submerged, despite a 2015 court order, and refusal to make public the official report in the massacre of four youth seven years ago.
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Click HERE for the letter to DGP

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