Eight youth 'attempt suicide' in Gujarat to demand beef ban

Eight youth on Thursday allegedly attempted suicide by consuming pesticide at the Rajkot district collector's office in support of their demand for a beef ban.

As the eight youths were rushed to a hospital and the news of the incident spread, supporters of the cow protection campaign stopped traffic on main roads in several parts of Saurashtra region.

Police took into custody 18 people for trying to obstruct traffic near Greenland Crossing in Rajkot.

According to police, around 50 activists of the Gujarat Goraksha Ekta Samiti reached the collector's office around 12.15 p.m. and began raising slogans in support of their demand.

Before the police deployed at the spot could react, the eight youth consumed pesticide widely used on cotton plants.

Those who attempted suicide had come to Rajkot for the demonstration from Morbi, Gondal, Thangadh, Jamnagar, Limbdi and Jasdan towns of Saurashtra region.

The demonstration was held in support of the ongoing hunger strike in Delhi to press for the demand to declare cow the national animal.