Based on the directions of NHRC, police here today recorded the statement of Patel quota agitation leader Varun Patel, who had alleged police atrocities against members of his community.
In November last year, Varun, an aide of jailed quota movement spearhead Hardik Patel, had written a letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the United Nations as well as some international NGOs, about alleged police atrocities and crackdown on Patel community members during the its stir for reservation and subsequent violence in Gujarat.
Based on Varun's letter, the NHRC had directed the police to take appropriate action.
He gave his statement to the officials of Bopal police station that falls under Ahmedabad Rural police.
"A few months ago, Varun had sent a letter to NHRC regarding some alleged police atrocities committed on Patel members during quota movement violence. Since Varun lives in Bopal area, NHRC directed us to take his statement today," Inspector, Bopal police station, M M Ganguly said.
In his statement, Varun demanded a free and fair inquiry into all those incidents, wherein policemen had allegedly thrashed Patels and damaged their property "without any reason" during the movement.
Talking about the development, Varun said, "In my statement, I demanded action against all those police officers who were involved in committing brutal atrocities on us during August last year. I asked police to conduct a state-wide inquiry into such incidents."
Currently, Varun is one of the conveners of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), led by Hardik Patel, which initiated the movement in August last year for the inclusion of Patel community under OBC quota for reservation in education institutes and government jobs.
