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, after a dispute over a caste panchayat’s ban on a Rajput family entering a temple in Ulhasnagar, on the outskirts of Mumbai.

The incident took place on Friday (May 15, 2026) in the Waghri Nagar area of Ulhasnagar, when a religious programme and a community feast were being held at the temple premises. A youth from the victim’s family objected to the caste panchayat’s restriction, saying his family had done nothing wrong. He then entered the temple premises, angering some members of another community present 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 attackers then threatened the women with severe consequences if they approached the police.

Brutal attack

Nevertheless, Kanta Prem Rajput, 50, her sister Geeta Rajput, and daughter Anjali, were headed to the police station to lodge a complaint when the accused intercepted them and dragged the women to the road. Ms. Kanta Prem Rajput was partially stripped, her hair cut with scissors, and a slipper garland forced around her neck. She was then paraded on the road for nearly two kilometres. Several people were forced to touch her feet during the procession. Ms. Geeta Rajput and Ms. Anjali were also assaulted.

Videos of the incident, showing bystanders watching and recording on mobile phones, appeared on social media and were shared widely.

The police said both the victim’s and the accused’s families belong to the same community. Allegations had been made earlier against the victim’s family, following which the family faced a social boycott.

Police response

After the incident, the victims approached the police. The family said the police did not treat the matter seriously at first and registered the case only after several hours. The victims also said the police invoked sections of the law that did not reflect the nature of the violations against the women.

The Ulhasnagar Central police registered a case under the 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 have been arrested. The main accused and several others remain absconding. Cases have been registered against members of both families, the police said.