📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Bernard Gagnon
Crime
Phone denial emerges as new tactic in Gujarat domestic abuse cases
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 25 Aug 2026, 03:04 AM
👁 3
A recent report highlights that denying access to mobile phones is being used increasingly as a form of domestic abuse in Gujarat, adding to the challenges faced by victims.
A recent investigation by The Times of India has found that perpetrators in Gujarat are increasingly restricting their partners' access to mobile phones as a means of control and intimidation. This method, described as a modern form of domestic abuse, hampers victims' ability to seek help, communicate with family, or report incidents to authorities.
Experts say that the practice exploits the growing reliance on smartphones for daily life, making it a potent tool for isolating victims. Women's rights groups in the state have raised concerns, urging law enforcement to recognize phone denial as a form of psychological violence and to incorporate it into existing protection frameworks.
The Gujarat police have begun training officers to identify such behavior during domestic violence complaints. Meanwhile, NGOs are campaigning for public awareness, encouraging families and communities to support women who may be cut off from their phones.
Authorities stress that any form of control that limits a victim's freedom of communication can constitute abuse under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. The push to classify phone denial as an actionable offense aims to provide clearer legal recourse for affected women.
Stakeholders hope that heightened attention to this issue will lead to stronger enforcement and better support mechanisms for victims across the state.
Experts say that the practice exploits the growing reliance on smartphones for daily life, making it a potent tool for isolating victims. Women's rights groups in the state have raised concerns, urging law enforcement to recognize phone denial as a form of psychological violence and to incorporate it into existing protection frameworks.
The Gujarat police have begun training officers to identify such behavior during domestic violence complaints. Meanwhile, NGOs are campaigning for public awareness, encouraging families and communities to support women who may be cut off from their phones.
Authorities stress that any form of control that limits a victim's freedom of communication can constitute abuse under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. The push to classify phone denial as an actionable offense aims to provide clearer legal recourse for affected women.
Stakeholders hope that heightened attention to this issue will lead to stronger enforcement and better support mechanisms for victims across the state.