Panchayat's shoe punishment for attempted rape sparks outrage

A 60-year-old man, Tirathpal, was punished by a village panchayat in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, after being accused of attempting to rape a 26-year-old woman. The panchayat ordered him to be beaten with shoes, a decision that sparked public outrage. The incident occurred on March 15, when the woman reported that Tirathpal tried to assault her while she was outside. After her family sought police help, the panchayat intervened instead, leading to a controversial punishment that many criticized as inadequate. Following the viral video of the punishment, police have registered a case against Tirathpal for attempted rape. The victim's family expressed dissatisfaction with both the panchayat's actions and the police response, fearing the case may not be taken seriously.