In a shocking incident from Gujarat’s Anand district, a farmer who had raised complaints about corruption in a village panchayat was brutally attacked and set on fire, allegedly by the village sarpanch and her family members. The victim is battling for life at Sayaji Hospital in Vadodara with critical burn injuries.

The farmer, Bharat Padhiyar, a resident of Ankalav village and in his early 50s, had recently submitted complaints to senior government authorities, including the Chief Minister, seeking action against alleged corruption in the local panchayat office. When no response followed, he also spoke to the media about the issue.

According to Bharat Padhiyar’s statement from his hospital bed, he began receiving threats soon after raising his voice. On Sunday, while stepping out for routine work ahead of a religious programme at his home, he was intercepted by the woman sarpanch Kokila Padhiyar, her husband Dinesh Padhiyar, their sons, and a nephew. The group allegedly assaulted him with sticks, dragged him to the middle of the village road, poured petrol on him, and set him ablaze before fleeing the spot.

Villagers rushed the severely injured farmer to hospital, where doctors described his condition as critical. The attack has sparked outrage, raising serious questions about the safety of whistleblowers in rural areas.