Dalit woman accuses doctor of assaulting her, hurling caste slurs in dispute over public bench in Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad News - Times of India
Ahmedabad: A dispute over sitting on a roadside bench allegedly escalated into caste-based abuse and violence in Nava Vadaj, where a 58-year-old Dalit woman has accused a woman doctor, her husband, son, and daughter-in-law of assaulting her and hurling caste slurs.Dadam Vaghela, who lives with her son Anil (30) and daughter-in-law Pooja (27) at Samarth Complex near National Handloom, filed a complaint with Vadaj police, alleging that the incident began around 7.30pm on June 14. According to her, Anil was sitting on a public bench placed on a road divider across from their flat when the doctor — who runs a clinic directly beneath their residence — told him he was not allowed to sit there.Pooja intervened, questioning the claim that the bench was restricted. Dadam said she heard the noise and rushed downstairs. She alleged that the doctor attempted to raise her hand on Pooja, prompting her daughter-in-law to call the police control room. A police van arrived and briefly dispersed the scene, after which the family returned to their flat.However, Dadam claims the matter escalated again shortly after, when she and her brother were standing nearby.
The doctor, along with her husband, son, and daughter-in-law, allegedly approached them and launched into verbal abuse laced with caste-based slurs. When Dadam's brother tried to record the exchange, the doctor's daughter-in-law allegedly snatched his phone. As Dadam tried to retrieve it, she was allegedly struck on the head by the doctor's son.
All four family members reportedly assaulted her.Another bystander alerted the police, but Dadam said she was unable to lodge a complaint that night due to her medical condition.
She later submitted a written complaint, naming her brother and other family members as witnesses.Vadaj police registered a complaint of relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for causing hurt, criminal intimidation, using abusive words, and abetment, along with charges of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the doctor, her husband, and two other family members.
