Dalits in Gujrat have started a protest against the attack on 4 youths by cow vigilante groups for alleged cow slaughter. Many people of the community have been hospitalized after they consumed poison in an attempt to commit suicide. Reports claim that five people from Gondal and two from Jamkandorana have consumed pesticides in protest to the incident that took place last week.
The protest turned violent when protesters set two state owned buses on fire. In a unique way to raise their voice against the incident, the community members dumped truckloads of cow carcasses on the roads. They also dumped a truckload of cow carcasses in front of the collector's office in Surendranagar district and have refused to bury them until strict action is taken against those who were involved in publicly flogging four dalits accused of cow slaughter.
"Dalits will stop lifting dead animals. We told the government to ask Shiv Sainiks and the self-proclaimed cow protectors to collect and dispose of the carcass from the villages and towns," said a Dalit rights activist, BK Parmar to the Times of India.
Meanwhile Gujrat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has ordered a CID probe into the matter. She has also announced the setting up of a special court and appointing a special public prosecutor in the case and said that the charge sheet will be filed within 60 days.
Last week a video had went viral showing four dalit youths being mercilessly flogged by a self-proclaimed cow vigilante group accusing them of “Cow Slaughter”. However, the youths have denied the allegation. They say they were only skinning a dead cow before deposing it, which according to them, is their traditional job. Three men including a Shiv Sena activist have been arrested by the police and raids for further arrests are being conducted.
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