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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Why these Dalits tried to kill themselves in India's Gujarat | Why these Dalits tried to kill themselves in India's Gujarat |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 30 Dalit men have tried to take their lives in the western Indian state of Gujarat to protest against the public beating of four low-caste men by cow protection vigilantes. | More than 30 Dalit men have tried to take their lives in the western Indian state of Gujarat to protest against the public beating of four low-caste men by cow protection vigilantes. |
| Dalit groups told the BBC that while one of them died, the rest were saved due to timely intervention by their relatives and friends. | Dalit groups told the BBC that while one of them died, the rest were saved due to timely intervention by their relatives and friends. |
| A recent video of the four Dalit men, believed to be tannery workers, being stripped and beaten with sticks, allegedly by the members of a Hindu hardline group in Gujarat's Una town, went viral and sparked massive protests by Dalit groups. | A recent video of the four Dalit men, believed to be tannery workers, being stripped and beaten with sticks, allegedly by the members of a Hindu hardline group in Gujarat's Una town, went viral and sparked massive protests by Dalit groups. |
| The men were assaulted as they were trying to skin a dead cow. Many Hindus consider cows sacred and the slaughter of the animal is banned in many Indian states. | The men were assaulted as they were trying to skin a dead cow. Many Hindus consider cows sacred and the slaughter of the animal is banned in many Indian states. |
| Four of the men who tried to kill themselves in protest tell BBC Hindi's Vineet Khare what drove them to take such an extreme step. | Four of the men who tried to kill themselves in protest tell BBC Hindi's Vineet Khare what drove them to take such an extreme step. |
| Jagdeesh Bhai | Jagdeesh Bhai |
| I am a daily-wage worker. I earn 300-400 rupees ($4.46-5.95; £3.40-4.54) a day. | I am a daily-wage worker. I earn 300-400 rupees ($4.46-5.95; £3.40-4.54) a day. |
| I attempted suicide by consuming acid. I did it for my community. We want justice. We don't get justice. | I attempted suicide by consuming acid. I did it for my community. We want justice. We don't get justice. |
| Steps like this will change the situation. | Steps like this will change the situation. |
| I am married and I have a seven year old child. I knew my actions would hurt the family but still I did it. | I am married and I have a seven year old child. I knew my actions would hurt the family but still I did it. |
| Images from the video had been circulating in my head. They hit our brothers. I wanted to show them we could do something. | Images from the video had been circulating in my head. They hit our brothers. I wanted to show them we could do something. |
| If we do not react, they (high-caste people) will further dominate the Dalits. | If we do not react, they (high-caste people) will further dominate the Dalits. |
| I don't know how we will get justice, but we will. | I don't know how we will get justice, but we will. |
| Kishorebhai Solanki | Kishorebhai Solanki |
| The Dalits do not get justice. I saw the video on the internet and I consumed poison. | The Dalits do not get justice. I saw the video on the internet and I consumed poison. |
| I thought this will send a message and also open a way out of our current situation. I have dedicated my life to the community. | I thought this will send a message and also open a way out of our current situation. I have dedicated my life to the community. |
| The video made me angry. I felt I should do something for the community. | The video made me angry. I felt I should do something for the community. |
| I have three brothers and I have two sons and a daughter. | I have three brothers and I have two sons and a daughter. |
| I saw on TV that Mayawati (Dalit leader) is coming over. I think something for the Dalits will happen. The culprits should be sent to jail for at least 15 years. | I saw on TV that Mayawati (Dalit leader) is coming over. I think something for the Dalits will happen. The culprits should be sent to jail for at least 15 years. |
| Mahesh Raja Rathor | Mahesh Raja Rathor |
| "I saw the video on my mobile phone and I was extremely hurt to see atrocities against Dalits. | "I saw the video on my mobile phone and I was extremely hurt to see atrocities against Dalits. |
| No one instigated me to consume poison. I want the culprits to be punished. | |
| You would have seen in the papers how badly the Dalits are treated in Gujarat. These incidents refuse to cease. | |
| When I saw the video, I felt what's the use of this life? | When I saw the video, I felt what's the use of this life? |
| Dineshbhai Rajabhai Vegda | Dineshbhai Rajabhai Vegda |
| Mr Vegda's relative Mayur spoke to the BBC because he was too unwell | Mr Vegda's relative Mayur spoke to the BBC because he was too unwell |
| He is 23 and is a daily-wage worker from Junagadh's Batwa village. | He is 23 and is a daily-wage worker from Junagadh's Batwa village. |
| Four men from our village attempted suicide. He did it because he was livid with the incidents of atrocities against the Dalits. | Four men from our village attempted suicide. He did it because he was livid with the incidents of atrocities against the Dalits. |
| Such incidents keep happening but no one acts against the culprits. | Such incidents keep happening but no one acts against the culprits. |
| Atrocities on the Dalits are taking place across the state. | Atrocities on the Dalits are taking place across the state. |
| The video of this incident has had a psychological impact on him. | The video of this incident has had a psychological impact on him. |
| Sometimes he uses so much force it's difficult to control him. Doctors say he is fine but I don't think so. He repeats words, he slurs, he has no control over his actions. | Sometimes he uses so much force it's difficult to control him. Doctors say he is fine but I don't think so. He repeats words, he slurs, he has no control over his actions. |
| Sometimes he begins to laugh and then breaks into a sob. He has become like someone who is mentally ill. | Sometimes he begins to laugh and then breaks into a sob. He has become like someone who is mentally ill. |