In a tragic incident in Bhavnagar city, Gujarat, a 45-year-old Dalit woman named Gitaben Maru passed away on Monday, a day after a brutal assault by two men. The attackers were reportedly aggrieved by Maru's refusal to persuade her son to withdraw an old case filed against them under the Atrocities Act, as reported by PTI.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police RR Singhal, Maru was mercilessly thrashed with steel pipes by the duo and two accomplices near her residence on Sunday evening. Despite the immediate registration of a complaint and a first information report (FIR) against Shailesh Koli, Rohal Koli, and their two unidentified aides, Maru succumbed to her injuries on Monday morning.
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The accused had approached Maru, urging her to convince her son to withdraw the case, which was registered three years ago under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Maru steadfastly refused to agree to the compromise, leading to the violent attack.
In response to Maru's tragic demise, her family members and local Dalit leaders gathered outside Sir Takhtasinhji General Hospital, demanding the immediate arrest of all four assailants before claiming her body.
The FIR outlined the confrontation between the Koli duo and their associates with Maru, highlighting their demand for a compromise and her refusal. The assailants resorted to brutal violence, using steel pipes and even damaging nearby CCTV cameras to intimidate onlookers.
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The police have registered a case against the perpetrators on charges of murder, assault, and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. Three teams have been formed to apprehend the accused.
The assailants, in a shocking display of audacity, not only threatened Maru but also issued warnings to her husband and daughter. They even demanded that Maru vacate her house and relocate with her family. The injured woman was subsequently rushed to the hospital by her family members, where doctors reported multiple fractures and injuries.
The community's outrage and refusal to claim the body until justice is served underscore the gravity of the situation, shedding light on the urgent need for swift and decisive action against the perpetrators.
