A garlic vendor was thrashed, forced to strip and paraded at a vegetable market in Noida by two people allegedly after he failed to pay back Rs 3,000 he had borrowed from a commission agent at the market. A video of the incident was widely shared on social media where the vendor could be seen forced to strip and step out in the market naked. Additional DCP (Central Noida) Rajiv Dixit, two persons, including the ‘aadhti’ (commission agent), have been arrested and strict action would be taken against them and a search is on for the other accused. “ The main accused Sundar Singhand and his aide Bhagandas Singh have been arrested. Those absconding will also be nabbed soon and the strictest action taken against them as per law,” Dixit said.
The video clip was also shared by Congress’ UP branch which claimed the victim is a garlic vendor. In the clip, the expletives were heard being hurled at the vendor. The vendor who hails from Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh had taken the loan around a month ago for work. In his complaint, he stated that he owns a garlic cart and works at the fruits and vegetables market in Noida Sector 88.
On Monday, when he went to repay `2,500 of the `5,600 loan, he requested that he would eventually repay the remaining amount, according to the vendor. Recounting the horror, the vendor added, “However, the commission agent called in his accountant and two labourers to the shop. They held me inside the shop and stripped me of my clothes before assaulting me with sticks and hurling abuses at me.”
As per the Dixit, an FIR was lodged on Monday itself under relevant provisions of the law. “The FIR has been lodged at the local Phase 2 police station under Indian Penal Code sections relating to voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful confinement, insult with intent to provoke breach of peace and criminal intimidation, “ police said.
Charges of assault were added during the course of investigation. Those behind sharing the video will also face action, the officer said.
According to the FIR, the vendor had borrowed a sum of `5,600 from Sundar, the commission agent, a month back. These agents, known as aadthiyas, are the link between farmers and buyers and hold clout in mandis. On Monday, the vendor returned `2,500 and asked for some time to pay back the remaining sum. Sundar called out to his account and two labourers. They took the garlic vendor into a stall, forced him to strip and beat him up with sticks, the FIR says. The garlic vendor was also threatened with murder. He was then paraded naked in the market.
