Bulldozer retaliation after woman elopes in Gujarat

In Kareli village, Bharuch district, a family took drastic action after a married woman eloped with a divorced man named Mahesh Fulmali. Following this incident, Fulmali's family became the target of aggression when they could not provide him to the woman’s relatives. On Friday night, the woman’s family arrived with a bulldozer and demolished parts of six houses, including Fulmali's. They destroyed sheds, toilet blocks, and rooms as a form of retaliation. Tensions escalated when one of the woman’s relatives allegedly hit Fulmali's sister. The family fled once Fulmali's relatives called the police. On Saturday, Fulmali's mother filed a police complaint against six individuals, including the bulldozer operator. The police have charged them with various offenses, such as causing damage and unlawful assembly. The woman’s family claims they only removed illegal structures and that the demolitions were done in the presence of local officials. They said Fulmali's family failed to locate him, leading to their actions. The police are currently searching for both the eloped couple. Investigators are examining call records and other leads. Meanwhile, authorities across Gujarat are intensifying crackdowns on illegal constructions related to known offenders.