Panchayat awards 20 shoe-strikes, fine for young molesters

Karnal, Sep 19: Six youths accused of molesting a few girl students in a school in Gharaunda in this district were given 20 shoe-strikes each on the buttocks by their parents through a decree of the Panchayat of Kohand Gurha village, which also ordered withdrawal of police case against them.

The sentence was carried out in the presence of the full panchayat, school authorities, students and the villagers yesterday, after a marathon four-hour discussion which concluded that if the matter was taken to court the future of the young men would be ruined.

The youths aged between 17-20, who had allegedly forced entry into S D Modern School here on Friday last and molested a few girl students, were also slapped a fine of Rs 2100 each with a warning that if the action was repeated in any form, they will have to cough up Rs 20,000.

Though the school authorities had registered a case with the police against the six, after the punishment pronounced by the Panchayat, it decided to take back the case.

UNI