Belagavi: Woman paraded naked, tied to electric pole after son elopes with girl
Belagavi (PTI): A woman was allegedly assaulted, paraded naked and tied to an electric pole in a village in this district, after her son eloped with a girl who was to get engaged with someone else, police said on Monday.
On getting to know about the girl's act, her family members attacked his house in new Vantamuri village, damaging it.
They are then said to have dragged his mother away, paraded her naked and tied her to an electricity pole, they said.
The police, who rushed to the spot and set her free, have arrested seven persons in connection with the incident, and are investigating the matter. Additional forces have been deployed to avoid any untoward incident.
Belagavi Police Commissioner Siddramappa said both the 24-year-old Ashok and 18-year-old Priyanka belonging to the same community and from the same village were in love. At around 12:30 am on Monday, they left the village.
Angered by this, the girl's parents and relatives barged into his house, and treated his mother inhumanly, police said.
"On getting the information at 4 am, our Police Sub Inspector visited the village, followed by other senior officials, and seven people have been arrested," he said, adding that a case has been registered in Kakati police station.
Commenting on the incident, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "strict action will be taken against those who have committed the offence."
Terming the incident "extremely inhuman", Siddaramaiah, later in a post on 'X', said:
"This has made the whole society bow their head in shame. Our government will not tolerate such heinous acts for any reason."
"Several people have already been arrested in connection with the case. It is our full responsibility to provide justice to the aggrieved family by taking action to ensure that the culprits are punished severely," he added.
Home Minister G Parameshwara, who visited the area, termed the incident inhuman and said 10-15 members of the girl's family are said to have attacked the youth's mother, who was alone at home.
Police rescued the woman and took her to hospital for treatment, he said. "Those responsible...seven people have been arrested and will be produced before the court....efforts are on track to get the couple who have gone away back."
This is truly a shameful incident, Parameshwara said, adding, action is being taken by the police in accordance with law.
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Fadnavis rides motorcycle to Vidhan Bhavan, says PM Modi asked only for 'small sacrifices'
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday rode a motorcycle to the Vidhan Bhavan here and later defended the Centre's austerity measures, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only "asked people to make small sacrifices".
He also criticised the Opposition for creating "unnecessary controversy" over the matter, adding that questioning the PM's foreign visits - aimed at strategic alliances and economic benefits - was "sheer foolishness".
Fadnavis arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan in South Mumbai on a motorbike from his residence 'Varsha', with BJP leader and minister Ashish Shelar accompanying him, to attend the swearing-in of new members of the legislative council.
The move comes as part of the measures after PM Modi's appeal to conserve fuel and foreign exchange in view of the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted global energy supplies. India relies heavily on West Asia for crude oil and gas imports.
On Wednesday, CM Fadnavis announced a series of austerity measures, including halving the number of vehicles in the convoys of his cabinet colleagues, and cancelling foreign tours of ministers and officials.
Addressing reporters here on Thursday, Fadnavis said the state government had curtailed convoys, cancelled avoidable foreign tours and decided against holding large government events for the next six months.
Targeting the Opposition, the CM said similar austerity measures had been adopted by previous governments, including during the tenures of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, as well as by former finance minister P Chidambaram in 2012.
"The Opposition needs to show some maturity. Countries across the world have taken even tougher decisions. The prime minister has only asked people to make small sacrifices while himself taking very tough decisions. Creating unnecessary controversy over this is not appropriate," he said.
Fadnavis said he travelled by motorcycle to send a message on fuel conservation, adding that symbolic actions by political leaders help spread awareness among people.
"When leaders act symbolically in this manner, the message reaches the people. That is why I came here on a motorcycle," he stressed.
The chief minister said all unnecessary foreign visits by officials and ministers had been stopped, and efforts were underway to reduce fuel consumption and save foreign exchange.
"We have reduced our convoys. Wherever petrol and diesel can be saved, wherever foreign exchange can be conserved, we are making every possible effort," he said.
Fadnavis said a major government event scheduled in Satara on Friday would, however, go ahead as it was planned in advance and expenditure had already been incurred.
He said around 25 lakh families would receive benefits valued at Rs 10,000 crore under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana during the programme.
"After this event, however, no large government programmes will be organised over the next six months," he added.
The CM also dismissed criticism on social media over PM Modi's foreign visits, saying overseas trips aimed at strategic alliances and economic gains for the country should not be equated with avoidable travel.
"The appeal is only against unnecessary foreign travel. It does not mean businessmen should cancel important overseas deals. Criticising the prime minister's foreign visits is sheer foolishness," he said.
