Woman paraded semi-nude, garlanded with slippers over temple entry dispute

UPDATED: May 16, 2026 18:39 IST

An incident of public humiliation and assault against a woman and her family over a temple entry dispute has come to light from Ulhasnagar in Maharashtra, triggering outrage in the area after videos of the incident went viral on social media.

According to police complaint, the dispute took place in the Waghri Nagar area of Ulhasnagar. A local caste panchayat had allegedly earlier barred a Rajput family from entering a temple. However, the family continued to oppose the restriction and insisted on visiting the temple.

On the day of the incident, a religious programme and community feast were being organised at the temple premises. A youth from the victim’s family objected to the restriction and reportedly said that his family had done nothing wrong and should not be stopped from entering the temple. He then entered the temple premises, angering some members of a specific community present there.

The accused allegedly attacked the victim’s house with sticks and rods after the youth visited the temple. After assaulting the men of the family, the attackers allegedly targeted the women members and threatened them with dire consequences if they approached the police.

Complainant Kanta Prem Rajput (50), along with her sister Geeta Rajput and daughter Anjali, was on the way to the Central Police Station to lodge a complaint when the accused allegedly intercepted them.

The accused allegedly dragged the women onto the road, tore their clothes, semi-stripped them, and cut their hair with scissors. The attackers then allegedly forced slipper garlands around their necks and paraded them on the road for nearly two kilometres. The accused also allegedly forced several people to touch their feet during the procession.

Videos of the incident, showing the women being assaulted in public while bystanders watched and recorded the scene on their mobile phones, later surfaced on social media and went viral.

Police said both the victim and accused families belong to the same community. Reports also claimed that allegations had earlier been levelled against the victim’s family, following which the family had allegedly faced social boycott.

After the incident, the victims approached police. The family alleged that the police initially did not treat the matter seriously and registered the case only after several hours. The victims also alleged that the police invoked minor sections despite the incident involving serious violations of women’s dignity and human rights.

The Central Police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 against Jyuli Waghri, Vinu Waghri, Pappi Waghri, Nitin Thorat, Rohit Waghri, Sonu alias Balu Waghri, Mahesh Waghri and others.

Police have arrested two women in connection with the case, while the main accused and several others remain absconding. Police also said cases have reportedly been registered against members of both families.

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