At around 9:30 pm on Saturday, several unidentified men and women entered Bhavsar Dharamshala within Kotwali police station limits, brandishing illegal weapons and forcibly abducted a woman by dragging her into a four-wheeler, an official confirmed.
Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Meena stated that the abduction was carried out by the woman’s relatives, according to reports from IANS. Kotwali station in-charge Pushpendra Singh Rathore identified the arrested individuals as Ramchandra; Manisha, also known as Bunty; Kamlesh, also known as Ghota; Fakirachand; Shambhulal; Shyamabai—all residents of Chachawada Sathiya under Garoth Police Station—and Dinesh from Bhunki Hatunia.
A case has been registered under charges relating to kidnapping, the Arms Act, and other relevant sections. Officials have confirmed that further investigation is ongoing.
The woman was participating in a Navratri celebration alongside other women and young girls when four men and two women suddenly arrived at the venue. Without warning, they grabbed her and began forcibly dragging her away. A young woman who tried to intervene was pushed aside. One of the accused brandished a pistol-like object, causing panic among attendees.
Video footage captured the chaos, showing people fleeing in fear as the woman was taken away, said Kotwali police station in-charge Pushpendra Singh Rathore, according to the IANS report.
Upon receiving the alert, police quickly responded and imposed a district-wide blockade. Within two hours, Kotwali police traced and apprehended all seven accused and safely recovered the abducted woman. The vehicle involved in the abduction and the pistol—which was later confirmed to be a toy—were also seized, police added.
According to the woman’s statement, she had previously been married but left her husband due to repeated physical abuse and had filed for divorce. For the past four months, she had been living with a young man named Yash in Khanpura. Her family and in-laws, reportedly angered by this relationship, orchestrated the abduction to bring her back home.
Local residents have expressed outrage over the incident, especially given its timing during a significant cultural celebration. The event has reignited discussions on personal freedom, family pressure, and the urgent need for stronger protections for women in both private and public spaces.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
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