Madhya Pradesh: Who Abducted a Woman Practicing Garba?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Seven individuals were arrested for the abduction of a woman.
- The incident occurred during a cultural event, raising safety concerns.
- The police responded swiftly, apprehending suspects within two hours.
- The abduction was orchestrated by relatives of the victim.
- Calls for stronger protections for women have intensified.
Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh), Sep 21 (NationPress) Seven individuals were apprehended swiftly after they forcibly abducted a woman late Saturday night while she was engaged in Garba at Bhavsar Dharamshala in Khanpura, Mandsaur, as reported by the police on Sunday.
The shocking incident took place around 10 p.m., triggering widespread concern regarding women’s safety at public events.
Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Meena confirmed that the abduction was orchestrated by the woman's relatives.
The officer in charge of Kotwali station, Pushpendra Singh Rathore, identified the suspects as Ramchandra, Manisha a.k.a Bunty, Kamlesh a.k.a. Ghota, Fakirachand, Shambhulal, Shyamabai—all from Chachawada Sathiya under Garoth Police Station—and Dinesh from Bhunki Hatunia.
A case has been filed under kidnapping, the Arms Act, and other pertinent sections.
Investigation is currently underway.
Community members expressed outrage over the incident, particularly given its occurrence during a cultural celebration.
“This is not merely a family dispute—it’s a matter of public safety,” remarked one witness.
The incident has reignited discussions surrounding personal freedom, familial pressure, and the pressing need for enhanced protections for women in both private and public arenas.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the woman was taking part in the Navratri festivities with other women and girls when four men and two women arrived at the scene.
Without warning, they seized her and began dragging her away. An onlooker attempted to intervene but was forcefully pushed aside.
One of the assailants brandished what appeared to be a pistol, inducing panic among attendees. Video footage captured the chaos as people fled in terror while the woman was taken away, as stated by officer Pushpendra Singh Rathore.
Police were promptly notified, and a district-wide blockade was enacted. Within two hours, Kotwali police successfully located and detained all seven suspects and safely rescued the woman.
The vehicle utilized in the abduction and the pistol—which was later confirmed to be a toy—were also confiscated, according to police reports.
As per the woman's account, she had previously been married but left her husband due to repeated physical abuse and initiated divorce proceedings.
For the past four months, she had been cohabiting with a young man named Yash in Khanpura. Her family and in-laws, reportedly furious over the relationship, orchestrated the abduction to force her return home.