Ranchi woman publicly paraded with face smeared black in bike dispute

A deeply troubling incident of public humiliation has come to light in Ranchi , where a 28‑year‑old woman was forcibly paraded through the Bhabhanagra colony with her face smeared with black colour , police said on Tuesday, drawing widespread online outrage and concerns over women’s safety in the city.

The incident occurred on Sunday within the limits of Sadar Police Station . According to officers, residents alerted police after the woman was seized and humiliated in broad daylight by a neighbour and his female accomplice. Law enforcement reached the spot, rescued the victim , and took her to safety.

Two individuals, Pankaj Singh alias Pankaj (25) and Santna Kumari (23) , were arrested in connection with the case and have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) before being forwarded to judicial custody on Monday, confirmed Kuldeep Kumar, Officer‑in‑Charge of Sadar Police Station .

Preliminary investigation suggests the episode stemmed from a dispute over a motorcycle , which the victim’s husband had taken from Pankaj without informing him. Pankaj had been accusing the husband of stealing the vehicle; the victim acknowledged her husband’s action and said it would be returned.

On Sunday, the accused and his companion forcibly caught hold of the woman, smeared her face with black paint, and paraded her publicly , in an act that has since been widely shared on social media, where locals expressed alarm about rising harassment against women in parts of Ranchi .

During police questioning, both accused admitted their involvement. When asked why he had not lodged a complaint about the alleged theft, Pankaj offered no satisfactory explanation , and initial investigation indicates the bike might indeed have been stolen.

Police said the video clips circulating online bolstered their understanding of the incident and emphasized that further investigation is underway to determine if additional charges or arrests are warranted, and to ensure justice for the victim .