Gujarat: Three Dalit youths attempt suicide

Three Dalit youths tried to end their lives by consuming some poisonous substance on Friday near the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Dhoraji town in Rajkot district to press for their demand of a policeman's arrest.

Police said, after the incident, the youths-- Punit Bagada, Raju Saundarva and Mayur Chaudhari-- were rushed to a hospital in Junagadh, where they are now "out of danger".

The trio allegedly tried to commit suicide near the Ambedkar statue, where several people had gathered to pay their tributes to the Dalit icon on his 126th birth anniversary, police said. "Bagada, also known as 'Jonty', is a listed bootlegger. He had recently lodged a complaint against a constable of Dhoraji under the Prevention of Atrocities Act," Rajkot Superintendent of Police (SP) Antrip Sood said.

As per Bagda's complaint, when was in the custody of Dhoraji police some time back on the charges of bootlegging, the constable had beaten him up. Later, Bagda had filed a complaint against the policeman, following which a case had been registered against the latter, Sood said. "Demanding immediate arrest of the constable, Bagda and two of his relatives consumed poisonous substance near the Ambedkar statue today," the police officer said.
They are now being treated at a hospital in Junagadh and are out of danger, Sood added.