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Dalit protests spread in Gujarat, cop killed in attack

 Police detain members of Dalit community who staged a protest in Ahmedabad on Tuesday against the assault on Dalit member in Rajkot district, Gujarat. 

Dalit protests in Gujarat spread to several parts of the state, including Ahmedabad, on Tuesday unleashing violence in which a head constable was killed in stone pelting. State transport buses were attacked while three more members of the community allegedly attempted suicide.

Dalits are protesting against the brutal assault on fellow community members on July 11 for allegedly skinning a cow in Una in Gir-Somnath district.

“Head constable with local crime branch Pankaj Amreli was injured in stone-pelting in Amreli town. He died during treatment at Rajkot hospital. Ten other persons including protesters and policemen have been injured,” police said.

On Tuesday, three youths attempted to kill themselves by consuming poison at their residential society in Batwa town in Junagadh district, police said.

After seven Dalit youths attempted suicide at Gondal and Jamkandorna in Rajkot district on Monday to protest the assault, several incidents of damage to state transport buses and road blockades were reported from different parts of Saurashtra region across Junagadh, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Amreli districts. The protests also spread to Ahmedabad, where dozens of Dalits were detained, police said.

While a bus was torched in Dhoraji town of Rajkot district and several others damaged, protesters vandalised sheds for Bus Rapid Transit System in Rajkot, the police said.

Chief Minister Anandiben Patel announced Rs 4 lakh to the victim and handing over of the inquiry to the CID crime branch. The government suspended four police officials and arrested eight accused for lynching of Dalit youth at Una. But this did not  appear to pacify the protesters.

The issue is assuming a political tone, with the Congress on late Tuesday evening announcing that party vice president Rahul Gandhi would visit Una on Thursday morning to meet the victims and their family. Gujarat chief minister Anandiben had announced earlier that she would visit Una on Wednesday morning. 

The Aam AAdmi Party has also announced visit by Delhi chief minister and AAP supreme Arvind Kejriwal to Una on Friday. He is also slated to meet the victims and their families in Una.

The Dalit Panthers Party, meanwhile, has given a call for Gujarat bandh on Wednesday, besides other smaller Dalit outfits giving call for bandhs across various towns and cities in Saurashtra region to protest against atrocities committed on dalits.