On September 26, in Gomati district of Tripura, a 40-year-old woman was tied to a tree and was brutally beaten up by some men and women who alleged that the woman was involved in an extra-marital affair within the area of her neighbourhood. She was forced to wear a garland made of shoes.
The mother of two was working in the paddy field when three women of her village and few men together beat her ruthlessly.
A complaint was filed by the victim in Birganj police station accusing three people of relentless assault, unlawful control, disapproving the humility of a woman, under Section 304(B) and 498(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Official statements
Additional Superintendent of Police, Navadwip Jamatiya said, “As the victim is illiterate, we have recorded her statement. Operations have been started to identify and arrest the accused involved in this incident.”
“An investigation is ongoing to know what led the incident to occur. The lady said that she was beaten up while she was in the field working. What happened is still under investigation”, said other officials, as per reports by The Indian Express.
Amarpur, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Souvik De said, “They have identified one of the accused who is a woman and have arrested her,” as per reports by the NDTV.
Villager’s reaction
Some villagers claimed the man who was involved with the victim in an alleged extra-marital affair, killed his wife amidst an argument two days before the incident, who found out about their illicit relationship, as per reports by The Indian Express. Villagers, especially the womenfolk, were angry about the issue and held the victim, responsible.
Talking to the Mirror Now, a member of the Tripura Women’s Commission (TMC) said, “We completely revile this kind of act. In the past also similar incidents took place in Tripura and ever since women’s respect and dignity has been jeopardised and urged the people of Tripura to come together and raise voice against such kinds of activities does not arise again”.
The Logical India Take
Moral policing has reached its peak these days in India. People are taking fallacious matters in their hands. They have forgotten the rule of law. People’s issue and decisions should reside among themselves.
When will people understand that it is off beam to incur into someone’s privacy?
On September 27, as Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been decriminalised, now it is time to understand the change and abide by the law. Adultery is no longer a criminal offence now. People who try to take the law in their own hands should be punished.
Also Read: Adultery Is Not A Crime, Supreme Court Scraps 158-Year-Old Law
