Balasore: Three men were arrested for allegedly tying two tribal women to a tree and assaulting them in full public view at a village in Odisha’s Balasore district.
The action was taken by the police after a purported video of the incident that took place recently went viral on social media.
The video shows an angry mob abusing the two women, accusing them of promoting forced religious conversions in Remuna and Nilagiri areas of Balasore district on December 26.
Balasore Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad told reporters that three persons have been arrested in connection with the assault case, while notice issued to four others.
He 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. The case was registered following a complaint by some locals that the two women were attempting forced religious conversion in the area, he said.
Notably, several Congress leaders including former OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik had condemned the incident and accused the police of trying to shield the culprits.
The incident triggered outrage in Balasore and other areas of the state and locals demanded the immediate arrest of others involved in the case.
