The humiliating act, allegedly carried out by the woman’s family, was recorded on video and widely circulated in the areaA 17-year-old Dalit teenager was allegedly paraded half-naked with his face blackened in the streets of Seeda village in Ludhiana district, after being accused of helping his friend in eloping with a woman.The humiliating act, allegedly carried out by the woman’s family, was recorded on video and widely circulated in the area.Police said that the incident was the fallout of a love marriage solemnized by Gurpreet Singh, a resident of the village, who eloped with a young woman on June 19.Suspecting the victim of helping the couple escape and solemnize inter-caste marriage, members of the woman’s family humiliated him.The victim said that on July 1 when he was present at a local salon when a group of men—identified as Gurpreet alias Gopa, Simranjeet Singh alias Simma, Sandeep alias Sam, Rajveer, and Ramandeep alias Kaka—barged inside, dragged him out, and assaulted him. They blackened his face, shaved his beard and moustache, tore his clothes, and then marched him semi-naked through the village. The victim added that when he tried to escape the accused chased and thrashed him. The accused made him sit on the road and kept on filming the act.He alleged that caste-based slurs were also hurled at him. The video was also circulated by the accused and it went viral.Police said that an FIR was registered at Meharban police station under the sections of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 351 (criminal Intimidation), as well as under Sections 66A and 67B of the Information and technology Act, and provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. One accused has been arrested so far, and police say more arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.Story continues below this ad“This is not only a case of physical assault but a grave violation of human dignity,” said a senior police officer, adding that the couple who got married were both adults. “We are treating the matter with the utmost seriousness,” police said.Inspector Paramdeep Singh, SHO at Meharban Police station said that Simarjeet Singh alias Simma has been arrested and hunt is on to nab the rest.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Dalit girl