SURAT: A video of two teenagers with half shaved heads being paraded in
public
by a group of people on suspicion of their involvement in a theft has gone viral. Police did not register an offence on May 30 when the victims were brought to the police station. The process for registration of offence by them began only after the video went viral.
The teenagers with half shaved heads were paraded in areas under the limits of Kamrunagar area of Limbayat police stations by a group of men. The victims can be seen in the video trying to cover their heads and walk fast as young boys continue to spank them and call the two ‘garbage’.
“We have started an inquiry into the incident based on the video and an offence will be registered. We are also working to identify the accused involved in parading the teenagers with their heads shaved,” said R P Barot, deputy commissioner of police, zone I.
Police sources said the crowd shaved heads of the victims over suspicion of their involvement in a petty theft. The teenagers are residents of Kamrunagar and their harassers knew them.
Police have identified the victims and are now questioning them to register the offence. Cops are inquiring from the victims if they had any rivalry with members of the group. Police sources said one of the group members was arrested after a rape complaint was lodged by sister of one of the teenage victims.
“On May 30, police had brought the victims and some of the suspects involved in the incident to police station for questioning, but the teenagers refused to lodge a complaint. The victims are not ready to lodge an offence, but we will take strict action after registering the case,” police inspector D D Pawar said.
Yagnesh Mehta is principal correspondent at The Times of India, S...
Read MoreYagnesh Mehta is principal correspondent at The Times of India, Surat and reports on crime, politics and health related issues. He has reported on major events that affected Surat in recent years, like the floods in 2006 and bird flu outbreak in Navapur in 2005. He has also covered child labour issues in industries of Surat and on RTI. Painting and rock-climbing are his favourite leisure activities.
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