Three men were arrested Tuesday in Kolkata's Sarsuna neighbourhood after police said they forced a 17‑year‑old boy, his father and a friend to parade naked. The suspects, identified as the girl’s father, her maternal uncle and her elder brother, were tied with ropes and made to walk bare‑chested and barefoot through the locality. Police say they were taken to Khudiram Palli for reconstruction. The incident, which unfolded on Sunday evening, sparked outrage after videos surfaced online.
According to police, the boy met his minor girlfriend outside the Sarsuna police station, accompanied by a friend. The girl’s family discovered the pair after the boy kissed the girl, a scene reportedly witnessed by the girl’s maternal uncle. Once informed, the uncle and his brother arrived and took the two boys to a house in Khudiram Palli, where they were allegedly confined and assaulted. The father was summoned later and also reported being beaten.
Police describe the accused as having threatened the father with a gun, forcing him to choose between shooting his own son or walking naked. The victims, fearing for their lives, complied and walked roughly 50 metres while observers recorded the episode on their phones. The three accused were later taken back to the original site and made to parade again, this time wearing shorts, as part of the scene reconstruction.
Residents in the area have expressed mixed responses, with some viewing the police act as instant justice, while others worry about the use of force. The incident has drawn attention from West Bengal Minister Indranil Khan, who posted a video of the arrests.
Investigators are still examining the alleged use of a firearm and the extent of the assaults. The case will be forwarded to the magistrate once the investigation is complete.