A disturbing incident of public violence has emerged from Telangana’s Nalgonda district, where a couple was tied to a pole and brutally flogged by villagers for allegedly engaging in an extramarital affair. The incident took place in Adavidevulapally mandal, and footage of the assault has gone viral on social media. In the video, several villagers are seen surrounding the couple and taking turns beating them, showing complete disregard for law and human dignity. The man was identified as Ramesh, a married resident of Nayakuni Tanda, who was reportedly in a relationship with a married woman from the nearby Molakacherla village. Both individuals were allegedly warned multiple times by their respective families but reportedly continued their relationship, which ultimately led to mob punishment when the villagers caught them together.
According to local sources, the incident was a reaction to repeated warnings given to the couple, which the villagers claim were ignored. They allegedly caught the pair red-handed and decided to “punish” them publicly, tying them to a pole in front of others and unleashing violence. The exact date and time of the incident remain unclear, and there is currently no confirmation on whether a formal police complaint has been filed. The video sparked outrage online, drawing attention to the continued prevalence of mob justice in rural areas. While traditional norms and community pressure often override legal procedures in such regions, this act of vigilante punishment has been widely condemned on social media and by legal experts.
It is important to note that adultery is no longer a criminal offense in India. The Supreme Court decriminalized it in a landmark judgment in 2020, stating that criminalizing adultery was unconstitutional and violated individual autonomy. Despite this, the villagers took the law into their own hands, highlighting a glaring case of social overreach and mob brutality. Human rights advocates have pointed out that such actions, if left unchecked, erode the rule of law and endanger personal freedoms. Authorities are being urged to investigate the matter and take strict action against those involved in the public flogging, in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
