A day after a couple were publicly stripped and tied to a tree by a village panchayat in Udaipur for their alleged extra-marital affair, the Rajasthan government on Monday ordered a probe into the matter.
Eight persons, including the woman's husband, were arrested today in Udaipur. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the probe will be carried out by a divisional commissioner and within seven days.
"This is a very unfortunate incident. I have ordered inquiry in this matter and sought details in seven days," Gehlot told reporters in the state secretariat here.
"No one has the right to take law in his hands. The law is binding to all and caste panchayats should understand that.
"There are certain customs like 'Mautana' and others in tribal people due to which such incidents take place but we are not going to tolerate this in Rajasthan," he said.
Gehlot also said the responsible people in the society should come forward to make people aware in tribal areas.
"This problem should be eradicated," he said. The village panchayat of Udaipur yesterday allegedly stripped the couple, shaved their heads and tied them to a tree for having "extra-marital relationship".
The incident happened in Karkoli village under Sarada area, and when a police team tried to rescue the couple they were attacked by mob. Several policemen were injured in the stone pelting by the mob.
Later, the woman filed a case against 12 persons. "We have arrested eight persons including the woman's husband Hamji and a deputy sarpanch Nandlal," Kailash Dan, Deputy SP, Sarada, Udaipur, said.
"Total 12 persons were named in the FIR lodged by the woman and eight out of them have been arrested. Remaining four are being searched," he added.