One of the Dalits who had consumed poisonous substance during Dalit protests in Rajkot against Una flogging died on Sunday morning at Ahmedabad civil hospital. Yogeshbhai Sarikhada, the 23-year-old Dalit, belonged to the Anusuchit Jati Vas in Moti Parabadi district of Rajkot. Sarikhada succumbed in Ahmedabad Civil hospital where he had been admitted for a treatment.

The news was confirmed by family members. ” Yogeshbhai was brought from Rajkot civil hospital to Ahmedabad Civil on Sunday morning at 4 am. Doctors declared him dead at around 6 am,” said one of the relatives accompanying the deceased.

Sarikhada was one of the 17 youths who tried to commit suicide while protesting the Una Dalit attack where a group of gau rakshaks had publicly flogged seven Dalit men for allegedly slaughtering a cow. The incident came to light when a video of the public flogging made by the accused was circulated on social media. Gujarat Chief Secretary G R Aloria had said that the accused made the video to showcase the flogging ‘as an act of bravado.’

To protest againt the incident, sixteen Dalits in Rajkot had consumed poisonous substance while one from Botad attempted self immolation. They are undergoing treatment at Rajkot and Ahmedabad civil hospitals. The incident caused massive protests nation-wide forcing political leaders to take cognizance of the issue and demand strong action against the perpetrators.

[Source:- The Indian Express]