The tribal woman was allegedly beaten and paraded naked by her in-laws, the police said
A tribal woman was beaten, stripped naked, and paraded through her village in Rajasthan's Pratapgarh district allegedly by her husband on Thursday the police said last night. In a shocking video of the assault, a man, allegedly the husband, is seen stripping the 21-year-old woman outside their home and parading her naked as she screamed for help.
According to the police, the woman was allegedly in a relationship with another man, which triggered the attack on her.
Seven people have been arrested so far in the case, including the woman's husband, the police said, adding that four people have also been detained.
Unhappy that she was living with another man despite being married, the woman's in-laws allegedly kidnapped her and took her to their village where she was beaten and paraded naked, Rajasthan's Director General of Police (DGP) Umesh Mishra said.
Six teams have been formed to arrest the accused and Pratapgarh's Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar is camping in the village, the top cop said.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the incident in a late-night tweet and said: "In Pratapgarh district, a video of a woman being stripped naked by her in-laws due to a family dispute with her in-laws has surfaced. The Director General of Police has been instructed to send the ADG Crime to the spot and take the strictest action in this matter. There is no place for such criminals in a civilized society. These criminals will be put behind bars as soon as possible and will be tried and punished in the fast track court."
In a scathing attack on the Chief Minister and other Congress Ministers of the state, BJP chief JP Nadda said the ruling party is "busy settling factional squabbles" - an apparent jab at the power tussle between Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot.
"The issue of women's safety is being completely ignored in the state," Mr Nadda said, adding, "The people of Rajasthan will teach the state government a lesson." The state is scheduled to go to polls later this year.
"The video from Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, is shocking. What is worse is governance in Rajasthan is totally absent. The Chief Minister and Ministers are busy settling factional squabbles, and the remaining time is spent appeasing one dynasty in Delhi. It's no wonder the issue of women's safety is being completely ignored in the state. Every single day, there is an instance of harassment against women. The people of Rajasthan will teach the state government a lesson," tweeted JP Nadda.
BJP MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the incident has laid bare the hypocrisy of the Congress as he asked if Rahul Gandhi will seek Ashok Gehlot's resignation and demand President's rule in the state.
"All limits of inhumanity towards women have been crossed in Rajasthan. In Dhariyavad, a woman has been stripped and beaten, the video of which is viral, but Gehlot ji, who makes tall claims on women's safety, is the Chief Minister and Home Minister of which state? Two days have passed, and the police have not even prepared the report! The hypocrisy of the Congress has been exposed now. Where is Rahul Gandhi? When will he come to Dhariyavad? When will he seek Ashok Gehlot's resignation and demand President's rule in Rajasthan?" Mr Shekhawat tweeted.