A tragic incident highlighting the dangers of superstition and mob mentality has come to light from a remote village in Gujarat's Sabarkantha district. A man was beaten to death while defending his wife, who had been falsely branded a witch by villagers. His two sons were also seriously injured in the attack.
The Incident
The attack took place in Gadivankada village, under Vijaynagar taluka. The victim, Manu Ramji Damor, and his family had been subjected to harassment for some time, with villagers accusing his wife of practicing witchcraft. On the day of the assault, the harassment escalated into violence. A group of villagers forcibly entered the family's home, targeting Manu's wife.
Manu's Brave Defense
As the mob closed in on his wife, Manu stepped forward to shield her. His two sons also rushed to protect their parents. However, the crowd turned into a violent mob, attacking Manu with sharp weapons. His sons were also assaulted as they tried to fend off the attackers, but they were outnumbered and overwhelmed.
Aftermath and Arrests
All three were rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment. Manu succumbed to his injuries while defending his family. The Chitoda police registered a case of rioting with murder and launched an investigation. Acting swiftly, police arrested 12 individuals within an hour, with assistance from the Local Crime Branch.
Kuldeep Nayi, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Khedbrahma division, confirmed that four of the arrested accused are women. Those arrested include Valji Saluji Damor, Jignesh Valji Damor, Rohit Roy, Jiwaji Saluji Damor, Nagji Saluji Damor, Hiraji Saluji Damor, Vijay Hiraji Damor, Kanti Saluji Damor, Sangeeta Nagji Damor, Aruna Valji Damor, Sharda Kanti Damor, and Sita Hiraji Damor.
