Dalit Woman's Family Stages Hospital Protest, Refuses to Claim Body
The family of a 60-year-old Dalit woman from Botad district continues their protest at Sir T Hospital in Bhavnagar. They refuse to take custody of her body until police meet their demands. The woman died after a violent attack on January 15 allegedly involving around 15 people from her village.
Police Make Arrests, Face Family's Demands
Police have arrested four persons in connection with the case. They are actively trying to persuade the grieving family to claim the woman's body for final rites. However, the family remains firm in their protest.
"We demand the arrest of all fifteen accused who attacked my family," stated a close relative protesting at the hospital. "Senior police officers failed to act promptly when our girl went missing. Their inaction led to this tragedy."
Roots of the Conflict: A Case of Alleged Elopement
The incident traces back to January 12. A minor granddaughter of the deceased woman was allegedly abducted by a youth from the same Dalit community. Police registered a kidnapping case under the POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.
Investigating officers suggest this might be a "case of elopement." Tensions escalated on January 15 when the woman's son confronted a relative of the accused youth. This confrontation triggered the violent attack.
Violent Aftermath and Cross-Complaints
During the attack, assailants used sharp-edged weapons. The 60-year-old woman and four others sustained serious injuries. The woman succumbed to her injuries during hospital treatment. Three other injured persons remain hospitalized.
The injured father of the missing girl filed a formal complaint. He named fifteen persons under the BNS and SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
Botad Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Sharma provided updates:
- Police have arrested four accused
- Two more are under hospital watch
- Four special teams formed to trace remaining suspects
"There is a cross-complaint in this case," Sharma explained. "The opposing side has also accused the woman's family of attacking them. Two persons accused in the woman's death are themselves injured and receiving treatment in Rajkot."
Family's Grievances and Police Response
The protesting family holds local police responsible for the escalation. They believe timely action to trace the missing girl could have prevented the fatal attack.
SP Sharma addressed these concerns directly. "Their demand to suspend senior officers is invalid," he stated. "We registered the FIR immediately on January 12 and began investigation. This tragic incident occurred within three days, during our active search."
Police continue urging the family to claim the body while pursuing the investigation. The case highlights complex community tensions and challenges in law enforcement response to sensitive caste-related incidents.
