UP woman tied up, thrashed on panchayat’s order; molested

MEERUT: In a shocking video that has gone viral, a man is seen thrashing his 25-year-old wife mercilessly after a panchayat verdict allowed him to do so. The incident according to police occurred in Longa village of Syana region of Bulandshahr on March 10, but the video became viral only on Thursday and hence the FIR was filed against against seven named and dozen unknown men. Three have been arrested so far. A large crowd is also seen witnessing the event but none of those witnessing came forward to help her. The video shows her hands tied to a branch and her husband shouting at her “Ab bhaag ke dikha.” Later, according to the woman’s complaint in the FIR, she was taken by a few men inside the house and molested. The woman had allegedly eloped with a village youth. The woman in her complaint has said, “I had gone with our neighbour Dharmender Lodhi but after five days a few villagers brought us back into village on March 10 and from 7 in the morning until 2pm, my hands were tied to a tree and in full public view thrashed by my husband Saudan Singh for hours together with belt and sticks. A few did protest but no one came forward to rescue me. Later, a few village men took me inside our house and molested me labelling me a prostitute. Former Pradhan even made a video of my humiliation. After my ordeal, I was asked to stay quiet about the whole issue or I would be killed.” According to station officer of Syana police station, Altaf Ansari, “We got to know about the incident on Wednesday night through the video. We investigated the matter and by morning everything became clear. On Thursday we filed an FIR against seven persons (named) and a dozen unnamed under IPC sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 147 (Statement conducting to public mischief), etc. We have arrested former Pradhan Sher Singh, woman’s husband Saudan Singh and one more person and sent them to jail on Thursday. Raids are being conducted to nab others.” Source: Times Of India