UP woman beaten, head shaved after alleging nephew of sexual harassment; Disturbing video surfaces

New Delhi: A horrifying video has emerged from Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, capturing the brutal assault of a woman who reported sexual harassment by her nephew. The footage, which has sparked widespread outrage, shows the woman being viciously beaten and having her head shaved after making the complaint.

The incident took place on September 3 but only recently came to light with the viral spread of the video. The disturbing footage shows the woman, her head shaved and limbs bound, being struck repeatedly with a wooden stick by her husband. In the video, the woman is seen being beaten by multiple men, visibly in agony before collapsing from the assault.

What are the allegations against accused?

The woman alleged that her nephew, Raja Nath, had been sexually harassing her. When she confronted him at his residence, she was subjected to violence by her husband and his family. They not only shaved her head but also assaulted her with sticks as punishment, following orders from the local village panchayat.

Watch the video here (viewers discretion advised):

A woman in #UttarPradesh’s #Kannauj was brutally thrashed and had her head shaved after she complained that her nephew harassed her. The incident took place on September 3, 2024, but the video surfaced recently, leading to the arrest of six people.

The viral video shows the… pic.twitter.com/KrTZHzZefE

— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) September 7, 2024

Police response

The village panchayat had reportedly decreed that both the woman and her nephew should have their heads shaved as punishment. The woman's husband was instructed to carry out the public beating. The woman, who covered her head with a dupatta in the aftermath, described the incident, stating, "Jabardasti kata unhone (They cut my hair forcefully)."

Kannauj Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Anand confirmed the incident, stating, "A video of a woman being beaten is being shared. The man seen beating in the video is the husband of the woman. Six people have been arrested, and an inquiry is underway."