Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 24th April 2026

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported parading of a woman by the villagers with her husband on shoulders on allegations of elopement in the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh

Reportedly, the villagers also shaved her head

The Commission issues notices to the DM and SP, Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks

The status of the investigation and compensation, if any, provided to the victim also sought

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that the villagers paraded a woman with her husband on her shoulders on allegations of elopement in the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on 13th April 2026. Reportedly, the villagers also shaved her head. The incident came to light after a video was circulated on social media.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of human rights violations of the victims. Therefore, it has issued notices to the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include the status of the investigation and compensation, if any, provided to the victim woman.

According to the media report, carried on 15th April 2026, after the video was circulated on social media, the police traced the woman and provided her protection. An FIR was registered and some arrests have also been made.

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