Woman on walk with husband, daughter ‘stripped over Rs 8,000 bet’ in Jagraon

Jagraon (Ludhiana), Sep 23: A youth tore a woman’s clothes when she was on a post-dinner walk with her husband and 13-year-old daughter, on a road in Jagraon around 10.30pm on Monday, police said. And this reportedly happened over a bet of Rs 8,000, sources later said media. One of the man’s alleged accomplices was chased down by the husband and is now under arrest, while he and another accomplice remain at large.

The victim and her family were initially reluctant to lodge a complaint fearing public embarrassment, but on Wednesday they finally got registered the first-information report (FIR). The three men, all residents of Jagraon, have been charged under section 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Not only did one of the three, all aged between 20 and 25, strip the 34-year-old woman but they also laughed at their act and then fled whistling, from Kamal Chowk in the town. The victim’s husband called some people and they nabbed Ravi Kumar, alias Golu, after also thrashing him. Search for the main accused, Manija, and another unidentified man is on, according to Rajesh Kumar, station house officer (SHO), Jagraon (city).

The victim’s husband has stated in the complaint that these three were part of a group who used to harass her in the past too, “but on Monday night they crossed all limits”. A police officer who did not want to be named said the arrested man had revealed that it was done over a bet, though the FIR does not expressly mention it yet.

Jagraon SSP Opinderjit Ghuman said the accused, Ravi Kumar, has a criminal background and has previously been booked in an attempt-to-murder case.

“The trio attacked the woman from the rear and tore off her clothes even as her husband raised a hue and cry. They were harassing the woman since Friday. A hunt is on to nab the remaining two culprits,” he said.

“We are examining the bet angle.”