JAIPUR: Eight people, including the husband of a 21-year-old tribal woman who was allegedly stripped naked and paraded at a village in Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh district, have been detained, police said on Saturday.
The incident, caught on camera, was widely criticised by various political leaders.
In a statement, DGP Umesh Mishra said 10 people had been named in the FIR for molestation, thrashing the woman besides other relevant sections. Of these, eight, including the main accused, had been detained, he said.
He said the victim lodged a complaint against her husband Kanha Gameti, Suraj, Beniya, Netiya, Nathu and Mahendra for forcibly carrying her on a motorcycle and parading her naked.
“The main accused Kanha, Netiya, Beniya and Pintu and a minor have been detained apart from spectators of the crime Punia, Khetia and Motilal,” the police statement said.
Police also said that Kanha, Netiya and Benia got injured while trying to flee and are being treated at the Pratapgarh district hospital.
“The search for the remaining accused is on. Additional force has been deployed for maintaining peace and law and order,” the statement said.
Initial investigation revealed that the woman was in a relationship with another man, said Dhariyawad SHO Peshawar Khan. Police said the in-laws of the woman abducted her and took her to their village where the incident took place on Thursday. Her in-laws were annoyed as she was staying with another man.
They said six teams had been formed to arrest the accused and Pratapgarh Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar is camping in the village.
On the direction of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, DGP Mishra sent ADG (Crime) Dinesh MN to Pratapgarh on Friday night.
Gehlot took cognisance of the incident and posted on X, “Such incidents have no place in a civilised society.” He said the accused would be arrested soon and tried in a fast-track court.
Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje alleged that the video of a pregnant woman being stripped in front of people was doing rounds on social media, but the administration was not aware of it. She also appealed to people not to share the video, saying the incident had put Rajasthan to shame.