Protests continue over dalit thrashing; Rahul Gandhi visits victims

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat continued to simmer for a third consecutive day as protests against brutal thrashing of dalit youths at Una, allegedly by some self-styled cow vigilantes, flared up with incidents of vandalism and arson being reported from several parts of the state.

In Mehsana district's Kadi town, protesters torched three state transport buses, while a mob held up Ahmedabad- bound Navjivan Express in tracks for several minutes in Surat.

In Dholka town of Ahmedabad district, a rampaging mob vandalised Mamlatdar Office and hurled stones at police, who in turn fired 12 teargas shells to quell the protest.

Following the incident, police detained 40 people, which, however triggered more protests as locals gheraoed the police station demanding release of the detainees.

The situation is under control now, police said.

In Kadi town, three state transport buses were set ablaze at different places, hours after thousands of Dalits took out a silent protest march in the town.

"While two buses were burnt near GIDC, another was torched at Detroj road," police said.

As per state transport authorities, a total of six buses have been torched while more than 50 buses damaged by protesters across the state in the last three days.

In several parts of state, a shutdown was observed, besides road blockade and silent protests.

Amid tension, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi met the kin of the tannery workers who were beaten up allegedly by self-styled vigilante for skinning a dead cow on July 11 and assured them of all help. He also visited the hospital in Rajkot where the victims are admitted.

Separately, NCP leader Praful Patel along with two MLAs in Gujarat met one victim, Bhanubhai Sarvaiya, and his family members at Mota Samadhiyala and offered compensation of Rs 2 lakh, before leaving for Rajkot to meet the hospitalised victims.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to visit Una in Gujarat's Gir-Somnath district tomorrow.

Meanwhile, at Modasa in Arvalli district, shopkeepers called for a market bandh to protest against damage caused to their property during the state-wide bandh call given by Dalits yesterday.

"They (shopkeepers) said they have suffered damage to property worth over Rs 5 lakh. While Dalit protesters filed an FIR against some businessmen under sections of Atrocities Act, the businessmen also filed an FIR stating that a mob damaged property worth Rs 5 lakh yesterday," police said.