Suicide to support reservation agitation: Patidar youth cremated, Cong MLA jeered away

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Umesh Bhalala, also known as Umesh Patel, had allegedly hanged himself at his fabrication shop in Vavdi village near the city on Saturday evening. The funeral procession began from Umesh’s residence in Punitnagar area of the city, and the body was cremated at Mota Mava crematorium.

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Hundreds of Patidar youths and members of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti and the Sardar Patel Group joined the funeral procession.
Congress MLA from Dhrol Raghavji Patel tried to join the procession, but he was jeered away by mourners.

Umesh was a native of Amreli district and had been living in Rajkot for the last couple of years.

In his suicide note, Umesh stated that he was taking the extreme step to support the ongoing Patidar movement for OBC status and reservation benefits.

He was an active member of the Samiti, one the groups leading the agitation. Umesh was part of the group that had sought police permission to organise a public event to pay tribute to nine Patidar youths killed in the violence after police crackdown on a community rally in Ahmedabad on August 25. However, police had refused permission.