Woman, daughter kicked, stripped in Uttar Pradesh village

The mother and 18-year-old sister of a young man were kicked, stripped and paraded naked in an Uttar Pradesh village by locals who were against his relationship with a girl. The two brothers of the girl have been arrested, police said Saturday.

The mother and sister of Phaujveer Singh, 24, a resident of Kalyanpur village in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district, some 350 km from Lucknow, were Friday paraded naked in the village by a group of locals, including the family members of the girl.

"Phaujveer's mother and sister were dragged by their hair and brought outside their home. Then family members of the girl and other villagers kicked them in full public view. They were later forcibly stripped and paraded through the village," Sandesh Khari, a villager, told reporters in Bulandshahr.

According to villagers, Singh was having a love affair with the 21-year-old daughter of Anand Kumar, also a resident of Kalyanpur, for over one year. Since Anand Kumar was against the relationship, his daughter eloped with Singh last week. The couple have not returned to the village.

"The matter was brought before the village panchayat Thursday that ordered Kumar's daughter be produced within 48 hours. However, the girl's family said they would tackle the matter on their own. On Friday, the girl's family members along with other villagers barged inside Singh's residence and assaulted his mother and sister," added Khari.

Police inspector Hari Singh told IANS Saturday: "We have arrested Dharmendra and Virendra - brothers of the girl - who were primarily involved in the incident.

"We have initiated an enquiry into the case and others involved in the crime will also be punished."

Last updated on Nov 7^th, 2009 at 15:33 pm IST--IANS