Gujarat: Teenage tribal couple thrashed for eloping; 3 held after video went viral
Chhotaudepur, Jun 16: A young tribal couple from a remote village in Gujarat's Chhotaudepur district was allegedly thrashed with sticks for eloping by five men, including family members of the teenage girl, in the presence of villagers, police said on Wednesday, adding three accused were arrested.
The incident, which occurred in Dhada village under the Rangpur police station in Chhotaudepur district on Monday, caught the attention of the police after a video of the brutal assault went viral on social media.
"A team of Rangpur police rushed to the village on Wednesday and arrested three members of the girl's family after registering an FIR for assault and rioting against six persons, including an unidentified person who recorded the video and circulated it," Rangpur police inspector N M Bhuriya told reporters.
As the young victims, both 19-year-old, belonging to a tribal community are in love, they eloped together on Monday and hid in the nearby forests, Bhuriya said.
"However, they were traced by family members of the girl who brought the duo to the village and thrashed them. A person shot the clip and circulated it. We have lodged an FIR against six men based on a complaint given by the teenage boy's grandfather. Three accused were already arrested," he said.
In the video, two men, armed with sticks, can be seen hitting the teenage boy who was tied to an electricity pole. Then, one of the men brings the girl near the pole and hits her with a stick repeatedly in the presence of some villagers.
The arrested trio included the girl's uncle, her brother and a distant relative. Three others are yet to be nabbed, said the police officer.
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Bengal: Hours after killing of Suvendu's aide, cops say 5 BJP workers injured in bomb attack
Kolkata (PTI): Five BJP supporters have been injured allegedly in a bomb blast in Panihati in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred late on Wednesday night, hours after Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants, which led to the saffron camp accusing the TMC of unleashing retaliatory violence.
The bomb blast occurred near St Xavier's Institution in Panihati. Unidentified assailants hurled crude bombs at a group of BJP workers, injuring at least five people, police said, adding the injured were admitted to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
According to local sources, BJP workers were interacting with residents on Dutta Road in Panihati's Ward number 2 when a group of motorcycle-borne persons allegedly targeted them with bombs before fleeing.
The BJP alleged that the attackers were backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress, an allegation denied by the Mamata Banerjee-led party.
A senior police official said, "We have started an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to identify those involved. Raids are being conducted to nab the accused."
A heavy police deployment has been made in the area.
"We are maintaining strict vigil and appealing to people not to spread rumours. Necessary steps are being taken to maintain peace," the officer added.
Incidentally, the area where the blast occurred is located near the residence of newly elected BJP MLA Ratna Debnath, the mother of the RG Kar Hospital rape victim.
