In a dramatic display of public shaming, the main accused in the assault and humiliation of a woman police constable in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district was paraded through the town on Monday, his face smeared black and a garland of slippers around his neck.
Public Humiliation as Punishment
The accused, identified as Chitraseen Sao, was forced to shout slogans like "Police hamari baap hai, vardi phaadna paap hai" (Police is our father, tearing the uniform is a sin) as male and female police personnel formed a protective ring around him. The procession moved from Raigarh's Hemu Kalani Chowk to the court, with officers at one point making him do sit-ups on the road. Bystanders recorded videos as firecrackers were burst around him.
Police confirmed Sao's arrest on Monday after days of intensive searches linked to the violent incident in the Tamnar region. With his arrest, a total of six accused are now in custody. The others are Mangal Rathiya, Chinesh Khamari, Premsingh Rathiya, Kirti Srivas (all from Aamgaon), and Vanmali Rathiya (Jharna). One suspect remains at large.
Roots in Coal Project Protest
The shocking public parade came days after a violent protest against the Gare Pelma Sector-1 coal project in Tamnar block. On December 27, a mob assaulted police personnel, including a local woman police inspector and another woman constable who was partially disrobed. Disturbing videos of the attack, which showed the constable crying and pleading with her attackers, triggered widespread outrage within the police force.
The clashes stemmed from a December 8 public hearing on the proposed coal block. Residents of 14 affected villages, opposing the project, launched an economic blockade at Libra village from December 12, halting coal movement and traffic. The protest escalated on December 27 when villagers gathered at Libra Chowk, broke police barricades, and hurled stones. Videos later showed Inspector Kamla Pusham being kicked and punched by women protesters.
Aftermath and Political Condemnation
Following the violence, Tamnar police registered an FIR with multiple IPC sections for rioting, assault on public servants, arson, outraging modesty, and relevant provisions of the IT Act for circulating objectionable videos. Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Deepak Baij strongly condemned the assault, calling it a "shameful incident that has shaken humanity."
With over 4,000 villagers participating, the protesters' key demand was the withdrawal of the coal block's public hearing. Subsequently, the Jindal company announced it would not conduct the hearing "for now."
This is not the first instance of police seeking public shaming in this case. Earlier, on January 2, when two accused were brought to the district jail, a group of women constables had demanded a public march of the arrested. Senior officers had intervened to prevent it at that time.
