Gujarat: Third Dalit attacked over 'moustache row', activists to march to Gandhinagar

A 17-year-old relative of one of the Dalit men thrashed last week for sporting a moustache was allegedly attacked by two unidentified men on Tuesday.

This is the third incident of Dalits being attacked in the Limbodara village in a week. 

Digant Maheria, a witness in another case in which a Dalit youth Piyush Parmar was attacked by members of the dominant caste, was stabbed while returning from school on Tuesday.

Two bike-borne men intercepted the teenager and slashed his back with a blade, alleged Digant​ Maheria's kin.

According to Digant's uncle Kirit Maheria, his nephew was attacked because Piyush had earlier lodged an FIR against the upper caste men.

"The men who attacked Digant wore masks and told him that they had been given Rs. 1.5 lakh to attack those who had lodged the FIR," Kirit Maheria told NDTV.

He also said Digant had deep wounds, but was out of danger.

"Investigations are on and it is too early to comment on the case," said VN Solanki, DySP, Kalol Taluka.

Meanwhile, Dalit activists in the state plan to march to Gandhinagar to protest the rising incidents of attack on Dalits in the state.

On September 25, some members of Rajput community allegedly thrashed Piyush Parmar (24). On September 29, Krunal Maheria (30) of the same village had alleged in his complaint that he was assaulted by some Rajput men for 'sporting a moustache'.

(With agency inputs)