Gujarat Dalit victims say 'gau rakshaks' could have burnt them alive

Members of Dalit Community protest in Ahmedabad against the assault on dalit members by cow protectors - File

Rajula: Seven Dalits, who were allegedly assaulted by a group of 'gau rakshaks' (cow protection vigilantes) in Rajula town in Gujarat's Amreli in May, have claimed that they could have been burnt alive.

As per a report in The Times of India, the seven victims alleged that the vigilantes were aiming to set them on fire in a small room.

The victims managed to save themselves only after police reached the spot. The police were tipped off by some members from the Dalit community.

Before being rescued, the Dalits were beaten up with iron rods, baseball bats and swords. The incident happened on May 22.

One of the victims, Pravin alias Ravi Zakhada, was quoted by the newspaper as saying that two of the attackers had even left for bringing kerosene “to burn us alive in the small room”.