Enquiry has been ordered by the government into what unfolded as a 'dramatic' incident in Jammu after a suspected thief was publicly humiliated with a garland of shoes paraded through the city on a moving Police vehicle. The incident invited public outrage and sever criticism prompting higher authorities to order probe.
it so happened that a man accused of theft and linked to a busted gang was paraded through the streets of Jammu on Tuesday, wearing a garland made of shoes and briefly seated on the bonnet of a police vehicle. After a video got circulated on social media, it sparked debate with many questioning legality and ethics of police action and the conduct in a 'undesirable' manner.
The incident occurred in Bakshi Nagar area of Jammu city , outside a hospital, where the man—identified as a Kashmiri resident and a known repeat offender—was apprehended by locals and police. According to Station House Officer (SHO) Azad Manhas, the suspect is part of a recently busted criminal gang and was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time of arrest.
The situation escalated when a local man, recently robbed of Rs 40,000 while buying medicines, spotted the accused and confronted him. A scuffle broke out, during which the thief allegedly attacked the complainant with a knife, injuring his hand. Police patrolling nearby intervened and apprehended the suspect after a chase.
Following the arrest, a group of local youths placed a garland of footwear around the accused’s neck. He was then made to sit shirtless on the bonnet of a police vehicle, while officers used a loudspeaker to announce his capture. Videos of the spectacle quickly went viral, sparking concern over the public treatment of accused persons.
On Tuesday evening, the Jammu Kashmir Police acknowledged the incident and issued an official order.The statement, signed by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu Joginder Singh, condemned the conduct of police personnel involved in the public parading of the accused. It described the act as “unprofessional, unbecoming of members of a disciplined organization,” and said it “calls for stern departmental action.”
A preliminary enquiry has been ordered and entrusted to the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) City North, who has been asked to submit findings within a week.This marks the second such public humiliation of accused individuals in Jammu this month. On June 11, three men allegedly involved in a shooting at Gangyal Chowk were publicly beaten by locals before being handed over to the police.
Despite rising incidents of street justice and vigilante action, police have yet to issue a broader policy statement on the public treatment of suspects.
Meanhwhile, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Wednesday called for punishing all those involved in public humiliation of a suspected thief in Jammu.
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