A 21-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were allegedly forced by a few to dance with motorcycle tyres around their necks as punishment for eloping in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. A 13-year-old girl was also forced to dance with them as she allegedly helped the other two elope.
The incident, the video of which is viral on social media, occurred in Kundi village, under the Gandhwani police station limits and about 70 km from the district headquarters, on September 12. Additional Superintendent of Police Devendra Patidar informed that the incident ensued after the two returned to the village after the woman went missing from her home in July this year. The two had fled to Gujarat. The girl's family had filed a missing person's complaint with the local police.
"Her family members were angry as she had fled with a man. They suspected that another young girl (seen in the video) helped the woman in fleeing from her home," ASP Patidar said.
The viral video shows the three being forced to dance with tyres around their neck while a man hits them with a stick a couple of times. The one who shot the video can also be heard laughing along with the others in the clip.
The police have registered a case against five people. Three of them were arrested on Tuesday. Efforts are ongoing to nab the other two accused.
The accused have been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 363 (kidnapping), 147 (rioting) and 294 (obscene act), and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.