Gujarat woman allegedly sexually assaulted during ‘purification ritual’; 9 arrested in Surendranagar

A disturbing case of alleged sexual violence has emerged from Gujarat’s Surendranagar district, where a married woman was allegedly assaulted during a so-called “purification ritual” after she left her husband and began living with another man.

According to police, the woman from Vapi had left her husband and moved to Chotila with another man. Her husband and relatives allegedly traced the couple and brought them to Surendranagar on the pretext of conducting a purification ritual.

During the alleged incident, the woman was reportedly beaten, stripped and tied to a tree. The man accompanying her was allegedly forced to sexually assault her, while the accused recorded the incident on their mobile phones.

The videos of the alleged assault were subsequently circulated on social media, following which the incident came to the attention of the police.

Police have arrested nine people in connection with the case, including the woman’s husband and two women. The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged ritual, the assault and the recording and circulation of the videos. Further investigation is underway.