Ahmedabad – The Gujarat High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the shocking assault on a tribal woman in Dahod district, where she was brutally beaten by a mob and paraded semi-naked. The court also expressed strong displeasure over the circulation of videos of the incident on social media.
A bench comprising Justice A.S. Supehia and Justice Geeta Gopi remarked on Monday that such incidents not only impact the social and mental well-being of women across the state but also have far-reaching consequences due to unregulated social media.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for February 12, while the incident itself took place on January 28.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the 35-year-old victim was allegedly in a relationship with a man from the village. When she was meeting him, her husband’s family, along with a mob, attacked her.
The mob assaulted her, partially stripped her, and bound her hands with chains, forcing her to walk through the village. The horrific abuse continued as she was tied to a motorcycle and dragged along the main road before being confined inside a house.
On January 29, the police registered an FIR against 15 individuals, including four men, four women, and four minors. So far, 12 accused have been detained and are facing charges under multiple sections of the law.
The Gujarat High Court’s suo motu action highlights the severity of the case, and authorities are under pressure to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved.
