Punjab’s Tarn Taran: Shocking ‘Chirharan’ Incident

In Chandigarh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday took spontaneous notice of an occurrence where a lady was purportedly attacked and paraded partially unclothed by her son’s in-laws in Tarn Taran. This occurrence brought to mind the infamous ‘Chirharan of Draupadi’ from the Mahabharat epic.

The assault and semi-naked parade of a 55-year-old woman occurred in Tarn Taran district, Punjab. This took place after her son chose to elope with a woman and marry her, against her family’s wishes. This incident unfolded in a village on March 31, merely days after the son’s elopement and marriage, according to police reports.

Justice Sanjay Vashisth, taking cognizance of this “barbaric and shameful incident” via media reports, deemed it fit to treat the matter as a public interest litigation. Justice Vashisth, who also serves as the administrative judge of the Tarn Taran sessions division, initiated this action.

The matter was subsequently presented before a division bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji. They issued a notice of motion to the Punjab government.

“This incident brings to mind a historical event from the Mahabharat era, specifically the ‘chirharan of Draupdi’ orchestrated by the Kauravas and met with silence from the Pandavas, including Bhishma Pitamah. This silence ultimately resulted in the bloodshed of thousands in the Mahabharat war,” remarked Justice Vashisth.

“Even centuries later, one does not expect the judicial system to remain indifferent to such incidents, brazenly occurring under the administration’s watch,” he added.

“As the administrative judge of the Tarn Taran sessions division, I am of the firm opinion that this incident warrants suo-motu attention from the judicial side. The high court cannot turn a blind eye to incidents where a woman’s dignity is openly violated, and despite requisite measures, law enforcement and other authorities exhibit apathy and fail to act promptly,” the judge emphasized.

Four individuals were arrested in connection to the incident, as per police statements. According to the victim’s complaint, she was alone at home when her son’s in-laws assaulted her and forcibly disrobed her. They then paraded her semi-naked in the village. A video purportedly depicting this incident surfaced on social media.

Kulwinder Kaur Mani, the mother of the victim’s daughter-in-law, along with her brothers Sharanjit Singh Shanni and Gurcharan Singh, and family friend Sunny Singh, were arrested in connection with the incident.

An FIR was filed on April 3, based on the victim’s complaint, under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354D (stalking), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code.