Cow bandh evokes mixed response, 110 detained in Saurashtra

Nearly 110 cow protection activists were rounded up from various parts of the Saurashtra region amid a Gujarat bandh call given by the Gau Raksha Ekta Samiti in support of their demand for declaring cow ‘Rashtra Mata’.

The bandh got a mixed response in Rajkot district and some parts of Saurashtra. However, the shutdown did not have much pull outside Saurashtra region.

In Rajkot, most of the shops in the main market at Dharmendra Road were closed in the morning hours, while shops and offices remained unaffected.

The Samiti exempted educational institutes and healthcare services from the bandh. Nearly 15 persons protesting at Trikaun baugh area were detained by the police in Rajkot. “We detained 15 persons, who were protesting at Trikaun Baugh area. There was a report of road blockade. Barring this, the bandh was observed in a peaceful manner,” Pradhyuman Nagar Police Inspector Manish Nakum said.

The Rajkot City Police had made adequate security measures. About 800 policemen and four companies of State Reserve Police (SRP) were deployed to control the situation. Some 60 cow protection activists were taken into custody in Morbi town of Rajkot district, police said. “Nearly 35 persons were rounded up in Manavadar town of Porbandar district as they blocked the road and disrupted traffic,” Manavadar PSI S V Gojiya said.

As many as eight cow right activists had on Thursday consumed pesticide at District Collector’s office premises here.