Faces Blackened, ‘Thief’ Labelled: Three Sisters and Mother Humiliated in Ludhiana
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Synopsis
In a disturbing incident in Ludhiana, Punjab, three sisters, their mother, and a young man were publicly humiliated by a garment factory owner, who blackened their faces and paraded them with signs declaring them thieves. This act has prompted outrage and calls for justice from the Punjab State Women’s Commission.
Key Takeaways
- Three sisters and their mother were publicly humiliated.
- Faces blackened and signs declaring 'I am a thief' were used.
- The incident sparked public outrage on social media.
- Punjab State Women’s Commission demanded a thorough investigation.
- The accused are facing legal consequences.
Ludhiana, Jan 22 (NationPress) In a shocking event in Punjab, the owner of a garment factory in this industrial city has reportedly subjected three sisters, their mother, and a young man to public humiliation. Their faces were blackened with ink, and they were made to wear placards stating “I am a thief”.
The accused claimed they had stolen garments, leading to this incident in the Ekjot Nagar area of Ludhiana. Reports indicate they were beaten, their faces forcibly blackened, and the placards included the message “I am a thief, I admit my guilt”. They were then paraded publicly, according to police accounts.
Onlookers taunted them, with some filming the ordeal on their mobile devices. One victim was a young woman with an upcoming marriage.
After videos of the incident began circulating on social media, public outrage ensued, prompting a police case to be filed on Wednesday under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the garment factory owner, Palwinder Singh, who accused the woman, her daughters, and a young man named Abhishek of theft.
In response to the incident, the Punjab State Women’s Commission took suo motu notice and issued a directive to the Ludhiana Police Commissioner, demanding immediate action and a comprehensive investigation by a senior officer.
The commission has requested a status update regarding the investigation and actions taken against the perpetrators, which include the owner and two of his employees, by January 23.
“The Punjab State Women’s Commission is dedicated to safeguarding and honoring women’s rights and dignity. Incidents like these are extremely concerning and will be addressed with the utmost seriousness,” stated the commission.
Videos of the event depict bystanders cheering slogans such as “beat them up”.
Women Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill expressed her astonishment that, despite the public humiliation, no one intervened to halt the parade or report the crime to the police promptly.
“I am astounded that the witnesses to this event showed such a lack of humanity,” she commented to the media in Chandigarh.
She noted that the accused paraded the victims through the streets while onlookers cheered. Some youths recorded the incident and shared it widely on social media. Following the viral videos, the police precinct at Basti Jodhewal filed a case against garment factory owner Palwinder Singh, manager Manpreet Singh, and a worker. The police are set to present the accused in a local court on Thursday.
According to police reports, after reviewing CCTV footage of the alleged theft, the owner grew suspicious and summoned the victims. He accused them of the crime.
Without notifying the police, the owner allegedly used ink to blacken the faces of all five victims and forced them to stand there. Subsequently, they were taken to the street and paraded through the neighborhood, where a crowd followed them.
