A shocking case of alleged road rage and assault has made Gujarat riled up with anger in the wake of surveillance camera footage of a family viciously attacking two young women in broad daylight in Bharuch district during a busy highway in Bharuch district. The video has been posted on social media which is not only shocking but also contains graphic scenes of a car ramming their scooter and a few attacks by sticks, slippers and punches from a mob of men on a busy roadside.
The alleged attack was reported in Ankleshwar and came about due to a dispute between one of the sisters and a college friend. A case against four suspects has been opened.
CCTV Captures Violent Roadside Assault
According to the initial information, the sisters were riding a scooter on their way to their tuition classes when they were allegedly followed by a family in a car.
The CCTV footage apparently shows the car hitting the sisters' scooter, forcing them to stop on the roadside near FDD College Road in Garden City, Ankleshwar.
Shortly after, the car’s occupants, including a young woman and her parents, stepped out and began attacking the sisters, they said.
The attackers were seen using a cricket bat, slippers and their hands to repeatedly attack the victims. The sisters are also seen attempting to defend themselves while surrounded and assaulted in public.
Passersby Initially Watch, Later Intervene
One of the most concerning aspects of the incident was that of the bystanders’ response to the situation.
Several people gathered at the scene as the attack unfolded, but many appeared to have been at the scene at first oblivious to the assault, none intervening.
After a few minutes there were a few people who intervened to stop the violence and the accused family left the spot.
The wounded sisters were later taken to a nearby hospital and treated.
Dispute Allegedly Began at College
The assault seems to have been initiated by a small personal dispute at a college involving one of the victims and a fellow student, said police.
According to reports, instead of settling the dispute peacefully, the student’s family confronted the sisters on the road, leading to the violent attack.
The exact sequence of events and the circumstances that led to the confrontation are being analyzed, the investigators said.
Police Register Case
Following the circulation of the CCTV footage, the Ankleshwar GIDC Police registered a case against four accused for the assault.
The investigation is being carried out based on CCTV footage, witness statements and other evidence we have now, officials said.
Police have not disclosed all legal aspects of the case under which the registration has been made but said the investigation is ongoing.
Investigators also are trying to determine whether the alleged hit and run of the victims’ scooter with the car was intentional.
Viral Video Triggers Public Outrage
The incident has led to widespread condemnation on social media (e.g., angry and enraged users on Facebook) that the attack was said to be so brutal and adults took part.
Many questioned how a family could have been involved in such an act over a minor dispute that was reported to be a minor dispute at the time.
Others also criticised the initial inaction of bystanders, saying more people should have intervened sooner to protect the victims.
The viral footage has reinvigorated discussions of public safety, road violence and the rise of personal disputes in which physical aggression is a more frequent solution than legal means.
Investigation Continues
Police officials have encouraged the public not to draw conclusions before they’ve had a look at all aspects of the incident, saying all aspects of the incident are being examined.
The CCTV footage will be the key to establishing the sequence of events and identifying the responsibility of each accused.
As the investigation continues, such incidents of public violence have once more become a cause for concern and the law should be enforced with much more ferocity against those who take matters into their own hands. More action will be taken based on the evidence collected in the ongoing investigation.
