Thrashed, smeared with cow dung: Man dragged out of Bhopal hotel and paraded over alleged interfaith relationship

BHOPAL: In a disturbing incident, a man was allegedly assaulted and paraded semi-nude by a group of youths, claiming that he was found with a woman from a different community.According to police sources, the youths, claiming to be members of a rightwing outfit, allegedly thrashed the man, smeared ink and cow dung on his face and forced him to walk down the street in a semi-nude state, while raising slogans.It was alleged that the youth was found with a woman outside his community at a hotel in the Govindpura area of Bhopal on Saturday afternoon.Videos purportedly showing the man being paraded down a street surfaced on social media, triggering outrage among netizens and calls for action against those involved.According to eyewitness accounts, the public humiliation continued for nearly an hour before a police contingent arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.The sleuths later escorted the man and the woman he was allegedly found with to the police station.The police said the woman told them that she had known the man for a long time and did not want any action against him.Both were subsequently allowed to leave, according to sources.Meanwhile, after videos of the alleged assault and humiliation went viral, an online complaint, along with the purported clip, reached the police commissioner’s office.“A complaint, along with the (purported) clip, has been received. It is being examined and appropriate legal action would follow against the persons responsible,” Sanjay Kumar, commissioner, Bhopal Police, told TOI.