The woman undressed, after an argument about entering the temple, she performed with a slipper; two women arrested

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Police have arrested two women for their alleged involvement in stripping another woman and parading her on the road with a garland of slippers around her neck following a dispute over a caste panchayat’s ban on a Rajput family from entering a temple in suburban Mumbai’s Ulhasnagar.

The incident took place on Friday (May 15, 2026) in Ulhasnagar’s Waghri Nagar area when a religious program and community feast was being held on the temple premises. A youth from the victim’s family protested the panchayat’s caste restrictions, saying his family had done nothing wrong. He then entered the temple premises and angered some members of another community there.

According to the police complaint, the accused then attacked the youth’s family home with sticks and rods. The men of the family were assaulted and the assailants then threatened the women with severe consequences if they turned to the police.

Brutal attack

Nevertheless, the victim, her sister and daughter were on their way to the police station to file a complaint when the accused detained them and dragged the women to the road. The victim was partially undressed, her hair was cut with scissors and a slipper garland was pressed around her neck. It was then paraded on the road for almost two kilometers. Several people were forced to touch her feet during the procession. The victim’s sister and daughter were also assaulted.

Videos of the incident, captured by onlookers and recorded on mobile phones, surfaced on social media and were widely shared.

Police said the families of both the victim and the accused belong to the same community. Earlier, allegations were leveled against the victim’s family, after which the family faced a social boycott.

Police response

After the incident, the victims contacted the police. The family said the police initially did not take the matter seriously and registered the case only after a few hours. Victims also said that the police used parts of the law that did not reflect the nature of the violations against women.

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

Two women were arrested. The main accused and several others remain absconding. Police said cases have been registered against members of both the families.

Published – 17 May 2026 22:31 IST