UP: Couple beaten, tonsured, garlanded with shoes over "illicit affair"
What's the story
A woman, Kamlesh Kumari, and her lover, identified as Ravindra Baheliya, both residents of a village in Gursahaiganj, Kannauj district, Uttar Pradesh, were brutally beaten by the woman's family members and other villagers who were opposed to their relationship, Hindustan Times reported. On getting information about the horrible incident, the police went to the spot and arrested two people. Read on for more details.
Background
They were in a relationship for three years
Reports said the 40-year-old woman had been dating Ravindra for three years now after her husband died by suicide. Ravindra, who is differently-abled, also helped in raising her children. On the fateful day, the two were locked in a room and thrashed. Their heads were tonsured, faces blackened and they were garlanded with shoes before being paraded across the village.
Testimony
We were thrashed, our heads were shaved: Ravindra
In a video interview, Ravindra admitted to being in a relationship with her. Additionally, he said that she had come to meet him on Tuesday night. As she was leaving, the villagers cornered her on the street, and the inhumane assault started. "Next morning, we were taken around the village with our heads shaved and faces blackened," he said.
Twitter Post
Here's the full video of what the man said
#कन्नौज
— Prashant Shukla (प्रशान्त शुक्ल) (@JournoPrashant) August 26, 2020
ये रावेंद्र बहेलिया हैं, दिव्यांग हैं। 4 बच्चों की विधवा कमलेश कुमारी से प्रेम संबंध था
परिवार का भरण पोषण भी कर रहे थे पर समाज के संक्रमितों को नागवार गुजरा तो कल रात दोनों को बेरहमी से पीटा फिर जो कृत्य किया वो देश देख रहा है@rohini_sgh@abhisar_sharma @vinodkapri pic.twitter.com/V3CCcpEaP3
Rescue
Couple undergoing treatment, culprits being identified
Circle Officer Sheshmani Upadhyaya said that apart from the two who were arrested, the other culprits were being identified from video footage, shot by some villagers. The victims are currently undergoing treatment at a government hospital. Separately, Additional Superintendent of Police, Vinod Kumar, said an investigation is underway. "Those found guilty in the probe would be booked and arrested," Kumar told TOI.
Details
The villagers wanted to punish the couple for 'illicit' relationship
Reports say that the villagers had warned the couple several times against continuing with their relationship, but the two did not "oblige". The HT report claimed that some members of the man's family also seem to have participated in the assault. An FIR has been lodged, and an emergency Panchayat meeting had also been convened following the incident.