A shocking incident of violence has unfolded in Gujarat’s Tapi district, where a woman, a respected taluka panchayat member, was brutally attacked and assaulted by a group of individuals over an alleged love affair. The victim, identified as Urmila Gamit of Songadh taluka panchayat, was returning home on a two-wheeler with her daughter on Saturday evening when she was ambushed.
The assailants, including a woman named Sobhna Gamit and three men, mercilessly attacked Urmila. Sobhna, fueled by accusations of an illicit relationship between Urmila and her husband, instigated the attack. Her son, wielding a hockey stick, struck Urmila with brutal force, causing a fracture in her left arm and inflicting injuries to her waist and head. The vicious assault didn’t stop there; they also chopped off Urmila’s hair, a horrifying act symbolizing the perpetrators’ rage and cruelty.
The attackers then went on to snatch Urmila’s gold pendant before fleeing the scene. The victim, severely injured and traumatized, was immediately rushed to a local hospital for medical attention. Following the harrowing incident, Songadh police station registered an FIR based on Urmila’s complaint and swiftly apprehended one of the accused.
This incident echoes disturbing trends of vigilante justice across India. Earlier this year, in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, a woman faced public humiliation and assault after refusing to comply with a panchayat’s decision to stay away from her lover. The villagers even attacked the police when they intervened to rescue the woman, injuring three policemen.
Similarly, in West Bengal, a couple engaged in an illicit relationship was brutally beaten with a bamboo stick by a man following a kangaroo court’s decision. These incidents highlight the alarming rise of mob justice and the urgent need for law enforcement to ensure safety and justice for all citizens. The Gujarat incident underscores the critical importance of addressing the root causes of such violence, including societal prejudices and the lack of faith in legal processes. It is imperative that authorities take swift and decisive action to prevent such acts of barbarity and ensure that justice is served.