In a shocking event in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, a 55-year-old woman was reportedly attacked and forced to walk in a state of partial nudity in Valtoha village by her son’s in-laws following his marriage, which went against the wishes of the bride’s parents.
A distressing video showing the victim being marched around emerged on social media on Friday. According to police reports, the incident took place on March 31, shortly after the victim’s son eloped and married a woman, defying her family’s approval.
The victim claimed in her report that her son’s in-laws attacked her and ripped her clothes off while she was alone in her house. She also stated that they then forced her to parade around the village in a semi-nude condition.
The authorities have filed charges against five individuals, with Kulwinder Kaur Mani, Sharanjit Singh Shanni, and Gurcharan Singh being named among the accused.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson, Rekha Sharma, labeled the event as “shocking” and revealed that the NCW has independently decided to look into the incident. Sharma expressed dismay over the lack of intervention from both the police and local community members and mentioned the possibility of reaching out to the Election Commission of India if necessary actions are not taken against those responsible, considering the ongoing Model Code of Conduct.
RP Singh of the BJP compared the situation in Punjab to that in Bengal, noting that the Tarn Taran episode has brought shame to everyone involved.
Following the complaint, an FIR was filed on April 3, invoking several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty (354), assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe (354B), stalking (354D), voluntarily causing hurt (323), and unlawful assembly (149).
