5 arrested for forcibly tonsuring Damoh man

Bhopal: Police arrested five people in

Damoh

district on Saturday for “taking law in their hands" and half trimming the moustache and beard besides tonsuring a man on suspicion of cow theft.The villagers thrashed the man after which he admitted to the crime. The trashing was followed by publicly humiliating the "gai chor".The incident took place in

Marutaal village

of Damoh district on Friday. After the case of a theft of a cow in the village, the villagers suspected Sitaram Rajput, a villager behind the incident. A small farmer by profession, the villagers caught hold of

Rajput

and thrashed him. He also allegedly admitted the “theft”. The villagers then removed half of his moustache and beard. Half of his head was tonsured The incident came to light when its video went viral in the region and the police took cognizance.Superintendent of police DR Teniwar said, five persons were arrested including the one who tonsured the head. The accused were arrested under 323 (assault), 294 (abuse) and 355 (Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person).