NASHIK: What should have been a quiet Sunday family outing to the picturesque Bhavli dam turned into a terrifying race for survival for a Nashik family, who allege a mob chased them after objecting to harassment of women in the group. Trapped inside their SUV, the eight family members watched in terror as attackers smashed windows, pelted the vehicle with stones and chased them for nearly 15km across the highway, with one assailant even clinging to the moving vehicle while trying to drag a passenger out.The Nashik rural police have since arrested nine accused, including a murder accused out on bail in another case, and booked them for attempt to murder, assault, molestation, stalking, rioting and other serious offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).According to the police, the family of eight from Nashik city was visiting the popular tourist spot around 6pm when two youths allegedly passed objectionable comments at the women and girls in the group. When a woman confronted them, the duo left the spot. However, the matter escalated shortly thereafter when a group of local men allegedly confronted the family over the altercation.“Although the argument appeared settled and we left the place, when we had driven a distance of a few kilometres in our SUV, a group of local residents intercepted our vehicle and shattered the glass,” a woman from the family said.The family’s ordeal was far from over.“They chased our car for about 15km and hit our car with sticks, rods and stones all along the highway,” she added.The woman’s husband described scenes of panic as the attackers pursued them on motorcycles and in a car, repeatedly trying to stop their vehicle.“They chased us on bikes and a car and hit our vehicle wherever they got an opportunity. At one point, they started blocking our path. Fearing that they would attack us again, I took a U-turn and took the Mumbai lane. However, one of the attackers lunged onto our moving car, attempting to drag my brother out,” he told reporters.Trying to protect his family while keeping control of the speeding vehicle became a desperate balancing act, he said.“I had to ensure that my brother was safe and, at the same time, also ensure that the hanging attacker did not fall off the moving SUV, as it could have led to an unfortunate incident. He eventually fell off after hanging on to the car for about 100 to 200m.”Unable to find safety on the highway and fearing another attack if they returned towards Igatpuri, the family drove straight to Nashik city.“Realising that going back meant meeting the people of the town again, I again turned back and directly went to the Ambad police station in Nashik city to lodge a complaint,” he said.The man added that he did not approach nearby police stations because he was unfamiliar with their locations.“I could have gone to the police stations in Igatpuri, Ghoti or Wadivarhe, but I was not aware of the exact location of the police stations.”Superintendent of police D S Swami said a case was immediately registered after the complaint was transferred to Igatpuri police station. Using video footage and technical analysis, police identified and arrested the suspects from different locations in and around Igatpuri.Swami said the incident did not occur at the dam itself, but nearly 8km away after the family had left the tourist spot.“The family also contacted the police on 112, and the police guided them. However, by the time the Wadivarhe police could reach them, they had sped towards Nashik,” he said.The SP said the police are taking strict action to ensure the incident does not affect tourism at the Bhavli dam and added that authorities would examine issues related to poor mobile network connectivity in the area.The arrested accused will be produced before a court on Wednesday. The police said one more accused, a murder case accused currently out on bail, is yet to be arrested.
