High Court takes suo motu cognizance in Tarn Taran woman parading case

In a proactive move, the High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the distressing incident involving the semi-naked parading of a woman in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district. The Court has issued orders for stringent action against the perpetrators and directed the Punjab government to provide a status report on the case’s developments by April 30.

Responding to the Court’s directives, the Punjab government disclosed that a FIR has been registered in connection with the incident, with five accused individuals already in custody. Additionally, authorities have confiscated the mobile phone used to record the incident. Despite ongoing actions, the High Court has mandated a status report for the forthcoming hearing on April 30.

Condemning the incident as deplorable, the High Court emphasized the imperative of curbing such atrocities and stressed the necessity of imposing severe penalties on those found culpable.

The distressing episode unfolded in Valtoha village of Punjab, where a 55-year-old woman was allegedly subjected to assault and semi-naked parading by her son’s in-laws. Police investigations revealed that the incident occurred on March 31, following the elopement and marriage of the victim’s son with a woman against her family’s wishes.

In her complaint, the victim recounted being attacked and forcibly disrobed by her son’s in-laws while she was alone at home. She further alleged that she was subsequently paraded around the village in a state of undress.