A retired army personnel in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district sparked nationwide outrage after he allegedly tied up and assaulted a minor girl for plucking guavas from his garden. The victim, the daughter of a migrant labourer, was seen in a viral video chained to a staircase while pleading for help.
Following a massive public outcry and the intervention of local witnesses, the accused issued a public apology, admitting his mistake to the victim’s family. Local police have taken cognisance of the matter and registered a case under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Juvenile Justice Act to ensure legal accountability.
A Harsh Punishment For A Minor Act
The harrowing incident came to light when a local youth, working in the Merchant Navy, recorded the girl’s ordeal and shared it online. In the footage, the child is seen crying “Uncle, save me,” while the accused justifies his actions by claiming she “stole” fruit from his premises.
According to witness statements, the man an ex-serviceman reportedly dragged the child into his home and used a metal chain to restrain her. “I informed the Child Helpline and the police immediately after seeing the child’s condition,” stated Rohit, a witness who confronted the man.
Under mounting pressure, the accused later released a video statement saying, “I made a mistake; I apologise to the girl, her family, and everyone. This will not happen again.”
Violence Against The Vulnerable
This incident highlights a disturbing trend of “vigilante justice” directed toward the children of migrant communities. While the accused sought a compromise through a public apology, the police confirmed that the severity of the act restraining a minor with chains cannot be overlooked.
Officials from the Una police station confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged, noting that the status of the accused as a former member of the armed forces makes the breach of discipline and empathy even more significant.
Local child rights activists have called for stringent action, emphasizing that “guava theft” by a child is a triviality that should never result in physical or mental trauma.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that the measure of a society’s civility is how it treats its most vulnerable members. Chaining a child for plucking fruit is not “discipline”; it is a gross violation of human rights and an act of cruelty that reflects a lack of basic empathy.
While an apology is a start, it does not erase the psychological scars left on a young mind. We must foster a culture where migrant families are treated with dignity and where children are protected by the community, not preyed upon for minor mistakes. True harmony can only exist when we replace anger with dialogue and chains with kindness.
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जिला ऊना में एक बच्ची ने एक व्यक्ति के घर से अमरूद तोड़ लिए तो उस व्यक्ति ने उसे घर पर बांध दिया वीडियो वायरल होने के बाद व्यक्ति ने सामने आकर अपने कृत्य पर माफी भी मांग ली है।#HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/iQJh1YzsDF
— Gems of Himachal (@GemsHimachal) April 5, 2026
