Police have arrested nine suspects over the assault of a woman in Gokarella after a video of the attack circulated widely on social media.
The incident occurred in the Medalanda area on April 16, when a group of individuals attacked the woman on a public roadway. According to police, the suspects initially fled but were apprehended on Sunday, April 19, following an investigation by Gokarella Police.
Preliminary investigations found the assault stemmed from a dispute among a group of relatives. The victim was admitted to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged after recovering from her injuries.
Further investigations are ongoing, police said.
The arrests underline the growing role of social media in flagging violent incidents to law enforcement. A widely circulated video of the roadside attack triggered public outrage and appears to have accelerated the investigation that led to Sunday’s arrests.
