Couple flogged for eloping in Gujarat, three held

VADODARA: The Chhota Udepur police on Wednesday arrested three men for flogging a girl and her paramour in Dhadagam village. The cops filed an FIR against five men after a video of the incident went viral among the locals. The police are searching for the other two accused.
The incident happened on Monday afternoon in presence of the villagers, some of whom shot the video. According to the police, the 18-year-old Sumitra Nayka was in a relationship with Kalpesh Karsan who stays in the same village. “The duo fled from the village around three weeks ago. They returned a couple of days back following which their families met,” said N M Bhuriya, police sub-inspector, Rangpur police station.
Though the two families were upset, the matter was settled after the couple promised not to meet each other. “Such agreements are usually made in the presence of the villagers. But two days ago, someone spotted them meeting at a field. The girl’s family rushed to the spot and caught hold of the duo,” Bhuriya told TOI.
The angry family members first tied 20-year-old Kalpesh to a pole and started thrashing him. The girl’s uncle Dinesh Nayka then flogged her with the stick in presence of Kalpesh. Sumitra’s other uncle Govind Nayka and brother Munia Nayka were also involved in the incident. The police have arrested Dinesh, Govind and Munia. “The boy and the girl haven’t got any injuries. They both are safe,” said A Katkad, deputy superintendent, Chhota Udepur.