A horrifying incident in Gujarat’s Dahod district has come to light, where a 35-year-old tribal woman was assaulted, partially disrobed, and paraded by a mob led by her father-in-law over a suspected extra-marital affair. Following the circulation of a video of the incident on social media, police arrested 12 individuals, a senior official reported on Friday.
The incident occurred on January 28 in a village in Sanjeli taluka, according to Superintendent of Police Rajdeepsinh Zala.
“An FIR was lodged on January 29 against 15 individuals. So far, we have arrested 12 people, including four men, four women, and four juveniles,” SP Zala stated.
He added, “After receiving information about the incident, we immediately intervened and rescued the woman, who had been locked inside her home by her father-in-law.”
The accused face charges of abduction, wrongful confinement, outraging the woman’s modesty, and assault with intent to disrobe. Those who recorded and circulated the video have also been booked under provisions of the Information Technology Act.
According to the FIR, the victim was suspected of having an affair with a man from her village and had gone to meet him on the day of the incident.
The mob, led by her father-in-law Bahadur Damor and her husband’s brother Sanjay Damor, along with several women, stormed into the man’s house. They reportedly assaulted the victim, partially disrobed her, and tied her hands with a chain before forcing her to walk through the village.
The ordeal did not end there. The woman was tied to a motorcycle and dragged along the main road before being taken back home, where she was locked inside a room, the FIR stated.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) condemned the act and held the BJP government accountable, demanding strict action against those involved.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Health Minister and government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel assured the public that police responded promptly. “The authorities acted swiftly, and 12 people have been arrested so far,” Patel said at a press conference in Gandhinagar.
The incident has sparked outrage and calls for stronger measures to ensure justice for the victim and prevent such heinous acts in the future.