Ahmedabad : Taking strong note of CCTV footage showing policemen vandalising cars, Gujarat High Court on Thursday ordered the police commissioner to conduct a probe and submit a report within two weeks into allegations that policemen opened fire in air and damaged property to create terror during Patel community quota stir. “CCTV footage shows the police is involved in damaging private property, if police does so… what is the difference between rioters and protectors,” asked the High Court.
It was hearing a plea filed by a city-based lawyer Virat Popat and his colleague Tirth Dave, who alleged that around 40 police personnel entered their housing society and started vandalising vehicles on August 25. The petitioners also submitted the CCTV footage of the incident. During the arguments in the case, the court asked the state authorities “why action was not taken against the responsible cops”. “What message it gives to people? Top authorities (of the state government) should take it very seriously so that public confidence can be restored in police,” the High Court observed
Justice J B Pardiwala directed the city Police Commissioner to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within a fortnight. The High Court also issued notice to the state government, home department, Director General of Police, the city Police commissioner and officer in-charge of Sola police station, under whose jurisdiction the alleged violence by policemen.
