Tue Mar 11 19:58:17 UTC 2025: ## Madhya Pradesh Police Accused of Public Humiliation of Suspects in Multiple Incidents
**Indore, Madhya Pradesh, March 12, 2025** – Several incidents in Madhya Pradesh have sparked outrage over allegations of police misconduct, involving the public humiliation and parading of suspects accused of various crimes. These actions, captured on video and widely circulated online, raise concerns about due process and the potential for extrajudicial punishment.
The most recent incident involved nine young men accused of disorderly conduct following a cricket match victory. They were reportedly paraded with shaved heads and bare feet, prompting condemnation from BJP MLA Gayatri Raje Pawar, who demanded an investigation. An investigation is underway, and one officer has been suspended.
Similar incidents have emerged in Ujjain and Damoh. In Ujjain, two men arrested for alleged cow slaughter were publicly paraded to court, beaten with batons, and subsequently lauded by some members of the public and right-wing groups who presented the officers with garlands and sweets. In Damoh, five men arrested on similar charges were also paraded, and their properties were subsequently demolished. In both cases, complaints were filed by right-wing Hindu organizations.
Another viral video showed two men, allegedly having assaulted a police officer, being forced to apologize while injured. Police claim their injuries stemmed from a prior accident.
While the Supreme Court has curtailed the use of bulldozers for demolitions, these incidents highlight a new trend of public humiliation as a form of punishment. Police, often backed by public approval and the silence of the government, are increasingly taking the law into their own hands, according to the report.
Police deny any intentional parading, attributing the incidents to media misrepresentation and vehicle breakdowns. However, critics argue that these actions echo historical practices of public shaming, and that the viral nature of these videos has far-reaching consequences for the accused and their families. The incidents raise serious questions about the rule of law and police accountability in Madhya Pradesh.
First Piper 