Gujarat villagers destroy houses over alleged elopement

In Gujarat, six villagers have been arrested for demolishing six houses, including one belonging to a man suspected of eloping with a married woman. The incident occurred on March 21 in Kareli village, Bharuch district. The villagers, including some relatives of the woman, used a bulldozer to carry out the destruction. According to police, the group lost control after they believed that the man had run away with the woman, who was visiting her parents. The police inspector, BM Chaudhary, reported that the woman’s family filed a complaint, leading to an investigation by Anand police. On the night of the incident, the accused took a bulldozer to the man’s house and damaged various parts of the building, including a shed and toilets. The man's family reported the damage to the police the following day. All six individuals involved, including the bulldozer driver, were arrested after a formal complaint was registered at the Vedach police station. This event raises concerns about "bulldozer justice," a practice criticized by the Supreme Court for undermining the rule of law. The court stressed that the executive cannot judge guilt or demolish homes based solely on allegations.