Declare cow as 'Rashtra Mata'; 8 activists attempt suicide

RAJKOT: Eight animal rights activists today allegedly attempted suicide by consuming poison in the district collectorate premises demanding that cow be declared as 'Rashtra mata' (mother of nation) and pan-India beef ban.

Condition of all the eight persons is stated to be stable.

The activists allegedly attempted suicide by consuming pesticides, demanding that there should be a complete beef ban across the country and cow be declared as 'Rashtra Mata', Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Kalpesh Chavda said.

"We had received information that some cow (rights) activists are planning to consume poison at the collector's office building, and (we) had, therefore, increased security there," he said.

Despite the presence of police, the activists managed to consume poison and were immediately rushed to Civil Hospital, he said, adding, "We are investigating as to how they managed to consume poison despite security presence."

The eight men were identified as -- Kamlesh Rabari (29), Dinesh Loriya (45), Amar Danidharaiya (35), Raghuvirsinh Jadeja (30), Vala Maru (36), Vijay Sindhav (28), Hinda Vambadiya (35) and Deepak Vaghela.