Gwalior: A 33-second video showing a child crying inconsolably while being taken away from his father has gone viral on social media, with claims that the incident was linked to a divorce case. However, an inquiry has revealed that the matter pertains to a marital dispute and not a divorce.
The video, widely circulated under the caption of a “Punjab Sikh family divorce case”, is from Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior. In the clip, a man is seen holding a child in his arms inside a police station. A woman, identified as the child’s mother, approaches him and takes custody of the child after handing over certain documents, reportedly related to custody.
As the mother attempts to take the child, he clings tightly to his father and starts crying. Despite efforts by relatives to console him and even offer chocolate, the child continues to resist and remains distressed. The father appears helpless as the mother leaves with the child, while police personnel present at the spot are seen watching the emotional scene.
Wife alleges domestic violence, dowry harassment
The woman, Sompreet Kaur, alleged that she was subjected to physical abuse by her husband Gurlaal Singh, a resident of Bhitarwar in Gwalior, within four months of their marriage in 2023.
She claimed that her husband repeatedly pressured her to get land transferred in his name from her father, who owns around 20 bighas of land. When she refused, she was allegedly beaten. She also alleged dowry-related harassment, stating that her father had given a Swift car and household items at the time of marriage, but her husband later taunted her for not bringing a bigger vehicle like a Scorpio, which was gifted to her younger sister during her wedding.
Sompreet further alleged that her husband would switch off CCTV cameras at home before assaulting her with a belt and switch them back on later. She said she had informed her family and local panchayat about the violence on three occasions, but the matter was temporarily settled each time.
Claiming that she was threatened with death, she said she left her matrimonial home on January 26 early morning and approached relatives in Mohali instead of going to her parental home out of fear. She also alleged that she was kept away from her son, which, according to her, is why the child initially hesitated to go to her at the police station.
Husband denies allegations, wants reconciliation
Gurlaal Singh denied the allegations of harassment and assault. He alleged that his wife used to secretly speak to an unknown person over phone and that he had caught her on a couple of occasions. He claimed that she had apologised earlier and promised not to repeat it.
He also alleged that his wife used to beat the child, which is why the child was reluctant to go with her. According to him, she left the house without informing anyone and did not contact the family afterwards.
The husband said efforts are being made to resolve the dispute through community mediation at a gurdwara. “There is no divorce. We want to forget whatever happened and bring her back home,” he said, adding that the viral video is being misleadingly presented as a divorce case.
Police officials confirmed that the woman had submitted an application at the police station seeking custody of the child, following which the handover took place. Further proceedings in the matter are underway.
