AHMEDABAD/RAJKOT: The ongoing protests over the assault on some Dalits at Una town in Gujarat worsened on Wednesday as seven more youths attempted suicide with violence and arson spreading to various places in the state.
The incidents of suicide bid were reported from districts of Rajkot, Porbandar, Botad and Gir-Somnath. The number who have attempted to kill themselves in the wake of the thrashing of seven youths by a vigilante group for allegedly slaughtering a cow on July 11 has gone up to 17. The victims of that incident had denied killing the animal, contending that they only skinned a dead cow.
The issue has gathered political steam with proposed visits of Congress VP Rahul Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, Friday respectively.
Chief minister Anandiben Patel met the dalit victims’ family on Wednesday at Mota Samadhiyala village in Una tehsil of GirSomnath district, and promised them all possible help and strict action against the culprits.