Cremation plan gives cops nightmares

AHMEDABAD: Even as the Gujarat high court has directed the police to hand over the investigation into the Shwetang Patel's custodial death case to the CID crime, the situation remained tense in Bapunagar area, especially in Matru Shakti society. Shwetang used to live in that society with his ailing father, Naresh, Patel, and mother, Prabha. Patel. He was picked up by Bapunagar the police on the night of August 25 night after an incident of stone-pelting.He later died in police custody and the postmortem report has put the cause of his death as submitted to the high court mentioned that he had died of brain hemorrhage.
The court had said that the body of Shwetang could be handed over to his family to perform the last rites. Relatives of Shwetang said they were unsure about the date of the cremation but said it most probably would be on Sunday, as Saturday is Rakshabandhan. Senior police officials said they were on alert as a large gathering is expected at the funeral procession. "We have made arrangements to prevent any untoward incident," said a senior police official. "Army columns and companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed to ensure there is no breach of peace."
Top police officials said they have directed their officers to check whether CCTV cameras installed in the city, especially in the eastern parts, are functional. On Friday, city police commissioner Shivanand Jha held a meeting with senior officers and directed them to keep a vigil on the developments following Shwetang's death.
The convener of the Patidar Anamant Andolan Samiti (PAAS), Hardik Patel, visited Shwetang's house at about 3 Pm on Friday. Media was not allowed into the society during Hardik's visit. "Shwetang's mother and his sister, Tina, tied rakhis on Hardik's wrist. Hardik promised to help them," said a resident of the society.