Bhubaneswar: Police in Balasore district arrested three men on Sunday for allegedly tying two tribal women to a tree and assaulting them in full public view recently. Police took action after a purported video of the inhumane act went viral on social media.
The video shows an angry mob hurling abuses at the two women, accusing them of promoting forced religious conversions in Remuna and Nilagiri areas on Dec 26.
“We took the case seriously and arrested three men. Others involved in the crime will be identified and arrested,” DIG (eastern range), Satyajit Naik, told TOI.
Police said two cases were registered in connection with the incident. “Those who tied the women to the tree were booked under relevant sections of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and BNS. Another case was registered against the two women under Section 4 of the Odisha Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, and sections 299 (deliberate and malicious insult of a religion), 3(5) (joint criminal liability), and 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) of BNS,” a police officer said.
Earlier, senior Congress member Niranjan Patnaik condemned the incident and criticised the police for allegedly shielding the culprits.
Locals demanded the immediate arrest of others involved in the case. “Police should not show leniency to the culprits,” said Siba Sankar Hota, a resident of Nilagiri.
Bhubaneswar: Police in Balasore district arrested three men on Sunday for allegedly tying two tribal women to a tree and assaulting them in full public view recently. Police took action after a purported video of the inhumane act went viral on social media.
The video shows an angry mob hurling abuses at the two women, accusing them of promoting forced religious conversions in Remuna and Nilagiri areas on Dec 26.
“We took the case seriously and arrested three men. Others involved in the crime will be identified and arrested,” DIG (eastern range), Satyajit Naik, told TOI.
Police said two cases were registered in connection with the incident. “Those who tied the women to the tree were booked under relevant sections of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and BNS. Another case was registered against the two women under Section 4 of the Odisha Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, and sections 299 (deliberate and malicious insult of a religion), 3(5) (joint criminal liability), and 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) of BNS,” a police officer said.
Earlier, senior Congress member Niranjan Patnaik condemned the incident and criticised the police for allegedly shielding the culprits.
Locals demanded the immediate arrest of others involved in the case. “Police should not show leniency to the culprits,” said Siba Sankar Hota, a resident of Nilagiri.