At around 9:30 pm on Saturday, unidentified men and women entered Bhavsar Dharamshala, located within Kotwali police station limits, brandishing illegal weapons. They forcibly dragged a woman into a four-wheeler and abducted her, according to an official statement.
Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Meena confirmed the details, stating that the abduction was carried out by the woman’s relatives, as reported by IANS. Kotwali station in-charge Pushpendra Singh Rathore identified the arrested individuals as Ramchandra, Manisha (also known as Bunty), Kamlesh (also known as Ghota), Fakirachand, Shambhulal, Shyamabai—all residents of Chachawada Sathiya under Garoth Police Station—and Dinesh from Bhunki Hatunia.
A case has been registered under sections related to kidnapping, the Arms Act, and other relevant laws. Officials confirmed that further investigation is ongoing.
The woman was participating in a Navratri celebration alongside other women and young girls when the group of four men and two women arrived at the venue. Without warning, they grabbed her and began dragging her away. A young woman present at the scene attempted to intervene but was pushed aside.
One of the accused brandished a pistol-like object, causing panic among attendees. Video footage captured people fleeing in fear as the woman was taken away, Kotwali police station in-charge Pushpendra Singh Rathore said, as per IANS.
Police were alerted immediately, and a district-wide blockade was imposed. Within two hours, Kotwali police successfully traced and apprehended all seven accused and safely recovered the woman. The vehicle used in the abduction, as well as the pistol—which was later confirmed to be a toy—were seized by the authorities.
According to the woman’s statement, she had previously been married but left her husband due to repeated physical abuse and filed for divorce. She had been living with a young man named Yash in Khanpura for the past four months. Her family and in-laws, reportedly angered by her relationship, orchestrated the abduction to bring her back home, the news agency reported.
Local residents expressed outrage over the incident, especially given its occurrence during a cultural celebration. The incident has reignited conversations around personal freedom, family pressure, and the urgent need for stronger protections for women in both private and public spaces.
(With PTI and IANS inputs)
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/navratri-2025-women-practising-garba-abducted-by-armed-group-in-mps-mandsaur-7-held-23595111