Bhatia's husband, renowned economist Dr Jean Dreze, said that the attackers came in an SUV and several bikes. "They threatened to burn the house, kill her dog etc, and also threatened the landlady," he told NDTV.

Dreze added that although Bhatia contacted the cops, their arrival did little to deter the mob.

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"Bela agreed to leave and pleaded for time - a few days. They refused and wanted her to leave immediately. Eventually they agreed to give her 24 hours to leave," he said.

The Bastar region is a part of Chhattisgarh that is severely affected by Maoist violence.

OneIndia News