Kin of Dalit woman who died after ‘attack’ stage protest, demand arrest of all accused

According to the police, it is likely a “case of elopement” of the minor girl with the youth. And suspecting involvement of another relative of the boy, who is accused of abducting the minor girl, the deceased’s son and the girl’s father reportedly reprimanded that person on January 15.

Following this, a group of around 15 persons from the accused youth’s side (that included some non-Dalits) allegedly attacked the girl’s father and other relatives at his residence with sharp-edged weapons. In the attack, the 60-year-old woman and four others suffered serious injuries and the woman died during treatment at hospital.

Three of the injured are reportedly still under treatment at hospital.

The ‘abducted’ girl’s father, who is one of the seriously injured persons in the attack, has lodged a complaint in the case against 15 persons under the provisions of the BNS and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the local police station.

A close relative of the deceased, who is protesting at Sir T Hospital in Bhavnagar, said, “It is our demand that action should be taken against senior police officers at the local police station for their inaction in tracing our girl. Had they taken timely action and traced our girl, this incident (dated January 15) would not have happened. Also, we demand arrest of all the 15 accused in the case who attacked my family members on January 15.”

Botad Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Sharma said, “They are demanding arrest of all the accused. We have arrested (or kept under watch in hospital) six of them including the main accused. Their demand to suspend senior police officers for alleged inaction is invalid.”

Sharma pointed out that the minor girl was allegedly abducted by the youth of the same community. The police had registered FIR on January 12 and investigation was launched while trying to trace the girl and the youth and within three days of it, this incident happened that resulted in the murder.

Sharma also said that there is a cross-complaint as well in this case as the opposite side of the deceased woman’s side has also accused the latter of attacking the former. Two of the persons accused of killing the woman are also injured and under treatment at a hospital in Rajkot. “Both sides have registered FIR against each other,” Sharma said.

The district SP added, “Four accused have been arrested. Two are in hospital and under our watch. We have formed four teams to trace the remaining accused from wherever they are. We are urging the family to take custody of the dead body.”