Video of Tree‑Bound Assault Sparks Outrage; Nine Charged in Surat District

A disturbing video showing a woman forcibly tied to a tree and subjected to a collective sexual assault has ignited public fury across Gujarat. The incident, reported from Surendranagar (part of Surat district), involved the victim being locked in a home, escaping briefly, and then recaptured and bound to a tree under the guise of a so‑called ‘purification’ rite. The assault was recorded by several members of the gang and later posted to social media platforms, leading to an immediate investigative response. Police identified the victim after she was located by relatives, provided her with protection, and documented her testimony. Nine individuals, including two women, have been taken into custody, and investigators are pursuing the people responsible for filming and circulating the video, as well as scrutinising each suspect's role in the crime. The case remains under active investigation.