Family humiliated and paraded for alleged theft in Ludhiana, case registered

Chandigarh: A factory owner in the Ekjot Nagar area of Ludhiana has been accused of publicly humiliating a woman, her three daughters, and her son by blackening their faces and forcing them to wear placards reading “I am a thief.”

The five were paraded through the locality amid chants of “thieves,” following allegations of theft at the garment factory, Deep Collection.

The incident, which was recorded by some locals and shared on social media, prompted swift police action.

Inspector Jasbir Singh, SHO of Basti Jodhewal police station, confirmed that a case has been registered against factory owner Parvinder Singh, manager Manpreet Singh, and a worker. The accused have been arrested and will be presented in court on Thursday.

According to police, the factory owner suspected the woman and her children of stealing clothes after reviewing CCTV footage. They were summoned to the factory, where the owner allegedly carried out the act of public shaming without involving law enforcement.

The woman later claimed that a youth living with her had stolen the clothes and sold them, and she unknowingly purchased the stolen goods. She also alleged that her daughters were beaten during the incident.

The Punjab Women’s Commission has taken notice of the matter, issuing a notice to the Ludhiana police and urging immediate action. The case highlights serious concerns over vigilante justice and public humiliation as a response to alleged crimes.