Nandini Oza // Dalit activist attempts self-immolation in Gujarat

16.2.18

Dalit activist attempts self-immolation in Gujarat: [theweek.in] He is reported to have sustained nearly 80 per cent burns. Meanwhile, the police managed to prevent Hemaben Vankar, believed to be a distant relative of Vankar, from attempting immolation.

Angered by the incident, Rashtriya Jan Adhikar Manch, led by independent MLA Jignesh Mevani, has called for Patan bandh on Friday and demanded suspension of Patan Collector and the police head.

The state government has ordered an inquiry.

What has angered the dalits is the fact that Hemaben, whose land is under contention, had written a letter to the Patan Collector on February 7 threatening to attempt self-immolation.

Hemaben in the letter said that she was not getting a response for regularizing the land falling in survey number 1022. She said she is a resident of Dudhka village of Sami Taluka of Patan District.

Hemaben alleged that she was not getting a proper response as she was a dalit. She claimed that she has been demanding to regularise land since 2015 and had paid dues of Rs 22, 236.