A woman was allegedly paraded naked, tied to an electric pole and assaulted in a village in Karnataka’s Belagavi district, after her son eloped with a girl who was to get married with someone else, the police said on Monday (December 11). Upon discovering about the girl’s move, her family members attacked his house in new Vantamuri village and damaged it. They are then said to have dragged his mother away, paraded her naked and tied her to an electricity pole, the police said.
The police reached the spot and set the woman free and arrested seven persons involved in the incident. They are further investigating the matter.
The police have deployed additional forces to avoid any untoward incident occurring.
What did the police say?
Belagavi Police Commissioner Siddramappa said that the couple – 24-year-old Ashok and 18-year-old Priyanka – hailing from the same community and from the same village was in love, and left the village at around 12:30 am on Monday.
The girl’s parents and relatives barged into his house angered by the couple’s move, and treated his mother inhumanly, the police said.
"On getting the information at 4 am, our Police Sub Inspector visited the village, followed by other senior officials, and seven people have been arrested," he said, adding that a case has been registered in Kakati police station.
CM Siddaramaiah reacts
Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured "strict action” against those who have committed the offence.
Terming the incident "extremely inhuman", Siddaramaiah, later in a post on 'X', said:
"This has made the whole society bow their head in shame. Our government will not tolerate such heinous acts for any reason. Several people have already been arrested in connection with the case. It is our full responsibility to provide justice to the aggrieved family by taking action to ensure that the culprits are punished severely," he posted.
State Home Minister G Parameshwara visited the area and described the incident as inhuman and said that 10-15 members of the girl's family are said to have attacked the youth's mother, who was alone at home.
Police rescued the woman and took her to hospital for treatment, he said.
"Those responsible...seven people have been arrested and will be produced before the court....efforts are on track to get the couple who have gone away back,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
