Karanjia (Mayurbhanj): A group of villagers assaulted a young couple and tonsured them for falling in love after a kangaroo court’s decision.
The matter came to the fore after a video of the incident went viral on social media. In the video, a couple is seen being tortured and tonsured in full public view, without any mercy by a mob. The moral policing was not only being executed by men but also by a woman who was seen thrashing the girl in the video. This appalling incident took place in Mandua village under Karanjia police limits of Mayurbhanj district.
According to sources, the incident occurred June 22. A case has been registered and investigation is underway after the victim lodged a written complaint with Karanjia police.
According to the complainant, she was in a relationship with a driver of the village. June 22, the couple decided to meet and the driver had come near her home. However, some of the so-called vigilantes had kept a track of the couple’s movements and gheraoed the two while they were talking near the girl’s house.
Upon knowing that the boy belonged to another community, the villagers dragged out the duo to punish them. The villagers cut their hair locks and shaved their heads.
Meanwhile, an onlooker recorded the whole episode and uploaded it on social media that went viral. In the video, the young couple is seen sitting crouched while the mob is tonsuring and hurling abuses at both.
Though a complaint has been lodged at the Karanjia police station, no action has been taken against any person so far.
“On the basis of the victim’s complaint, a case has been registered and we have launched a manhunt to nab the culprits,” said Karanjia SDPO Narayan Nayak.
PNN