Punjab: Dalit youth brutalised on suspicion of helping lovers elope, paraded half naked, face shaved and blackened, video goes viral
A Dalit youth was brutally beaten up, paraded half naked with his face blackened on suspicion of helping a couple elope in Seeda village; police arrested one accused, search for others continues.
New Delhi: A case of brutality against a Dalit youth has come to light in Seeda village on the border of Ludhiana. According to the police, the villagers not only beat the youth on suspicion of helping the lovers elope, but also forcibly shaved his head and beard-moustache, blackened his face and paraded him half naked in the village.
According to a report in Telegraph India, the incident took place on Tuesday, but the matter gained momentum after its video went viral on social media. In the video of the incident, the accused can be clearly seen using casteist abuses and brutalising the victim.
The police said that the victim has been identified as Harjot Singh. It is alleged that Harjot Singh had helped his friend and a young woman to elope and get married. Both of them got married on June 19, after which there was tension in the village.
On Tuesday, Harjot was in a salon in the village when some people reached there and dragged him out. The accused beat him brutally, shaved off his beard and moustache, blackened his face, tore his clothes and paraded him around the village in a semi-nude state.
According to the police, the accused also made a video of this entire act and shared it on social media.
The accused have been identified as Gurpreet alias Gopa, Simranjit Singh alias Simma, Sandeep alias Sam, Rajveer and Ramdeep alias Kaka.
Meharban police station in-charge Inspector Paramdeep Singh said that Simranjit Singh has been arrested, while the search for the remaining accused is on.
He said, “This is not just a physical assault, but a barbaric attack on human dignity. We are investigating the matter in depth and will arrest all the culprits soon.” The police on Saturday registered an FIR under sections 115(2), 127(2), 351 of the Indian Penal Code, besides the IT Act and the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The victim’s family has demanded the strictest punishment for the accused and justice.
Courtesy: Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
