JOIN USPanchayat punishes youth with 100 slaps for 'theft' in Uttar Pradesh
The victim, who repeatedly pleaded his innocence, was tied to a pole and slapped by the accusers and others several times. It could not be ascertained whether the rickshaw puller was indeed slapped one hundred times as no one counted them, according to eye witnesses.
According to reports, the incident occurred at Mohalla Quereshi in Moradabad town a couple of days back when the victim, a rickshaw puller, was passing by the locality. He was stopped by one Babu Khan, who alleged that it was his rickshaw and that it had been stolen a few days ago.
A crowd soon gathered there and the rickshaw puller was held hostage by Babu despite repeated pleas by the former that he had bought the rickshaw and also has necessary documents to prove it.
A panchayat of the elders and eminent persons from the locality was convened a little later which pronounced the rickshaw puller a “thief” and ordered that he be slapped one hundred times, reports said.
The poor rickshaw puller was then tied to an electric pole and the locals, including even youngsters, started slapping him even as many others and passers-by remained mute spectators and even enjoyed the slapping in what could be termed as sadistic pleasure.
Panchayats in UP are infamous for their bizarre and at times shocking decisions. They have, in the past, awarded death sentences in cases of love marriages, called for social boycott and even let off rape accused after slapping fines.