Dalit woman paraded, face blackened in Odisha over loan default
Civil society, activists slam silence of police, authorities
Bhubaneshwar: In a shocking incident in India’s Odisha state, a Dalit woman was subjected to inhumane humiliation after failing to repay a loan of just Rs 2,000 in Kandahal village under Nakachi panchayat of Angul district.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a disturbing video that went viral on social media showed the woman being paraded through the village with her face blackened and a garland of slippers hung around her neck. The degrading punishment was imposed by a self-styled “kangaroo court” comprising local women.
Reports said the victim had borrowed the small amount from a village committee but was unable to repay. Instead of relief, the committee enforced the barbaric punishment, while local authorities and police allegedly tried to suppress the matter. The victim lodged a complaint at Handapa police station on August 14, but no immediate action was taken despite the gravity of the crime.
A local resident said, “No immediate action was taken even though the crime was serious.”
Civil society groups and human rights activists strongly condemned the incident, terming it a stark reminder of the caste-based discrimination and violence against Dalits in India. They demanded urgent action against the perpetrators as well as accountability of police and village authorities for their complicity and silence.
