Police have arrested nine people, including two women, and are investigating the alleged assault carried out in the name of a ‘purification’ ritual.
Share Article
https://www.india.com/news/india/gujarat-shocker-woman-tied-to-tree-sexually-assaulted-in-name-of-purification-ritual-surendranagar-9-arrested-chotila-8533613/
(AI/representational)
A disturbing case of alleged assault and sexual violence has come to light in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district after videos of the incident surfaced on social mediaPolice have arrested nine people, including two women, in connection with the caseAccording to police, the incident involved the alleged illegal confinement and assault of a married woman who had been living with another man after leaving her husband.
The case came to the attention of authorities after videos showing the woman being assaulted and humiliated were circulated onlineA community member also informed the police about the incident, following which teams were sent to locate the woman.
Woman allegedly held captive
Police said the woman had left her husband and moved to Chotila, where she had reportedly been living with another man for around three monthsHer husband and relatives allegedly traced her and brought her backShe was then allegedly kept inside a house against her willAccording to the complaint, she later managed to escape and returned to Chotila.
After her husband learned that she was back with the man, he allegedly informed his relativesThe couple were then traced and taken to a house in Surendranagar on the pretext of carrying out a so-called purification ritual.
Police allege that the two were beaten and humiliatedThe woman was reportedly confined inside a room, while the man was tied to a tree.
Incident allegedly recorded on mobile phone
Investigators said the accused allegedly subjected the woman to sexual violence as part of the claimed “purification” ritualThe incident was reportedly recorded on mobile phones and the videos were later circulated on social media.
Police are also investigating who recorded the videos and who shared them online.
Authorities said the videos played an important role in identifying and locating the survivorA police team eventually found her and took her to safetyShe later gave her statement to the police after counselling.
Nine people arrested
Surendranagar police have arrested nine people in the case, including two womenThe accused include the woman’s husband and several of his relatives.
An FIR has been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology ActThe reported charges include provisions related to sexual offences, causing hurt, wrongful confinement and acts carried out by several people with a common intention.
Police are continuing to investigate the case and are examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault and the circulation of the videos.
Authorities are also looking into the role played by each of the nine accused and whether anyone else was involved in recording or distributing the footage.
