Will give body only for last rites, not protest: Cops

Body of Ketan Patel, who allegedly died in police custody in Mehsana last week, will be handed over to his family only for funeral rites, said cops.

“We will hand over the body to Patidars only if they agree to perform its final rituals and not for taking it to Raj Bhavan,” said RB Brahmbhatt, IG (Gandhinagar).

Hospital authorities have decided to conduct autopsy of the body to know where it has started developing cultural bacteria. Patidars are demanding a CBI probe into his death and have warned of a protest in front of Raj Bhavan on Sunday.

Brahmbhatt added, “We have made adequate bandobast around the hospital.” Neither Ketan’s family nor any other Patidar visited the hospital on Friday.

Autopsy’s CD would be handed over to Patidars on Saturday. Additonal district magistrate has issued a notice restricting processions till June 23.