A controversial incident in Jammu has led to a police probe after a man accused of theft was paraded through the streets with a garland of shoes. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, involved a man accused of stealing ₹40,000 from a patient's attendant.

According to reports, the accused was apprehended outside a hospital in the Bakshi Nagar area. The Station House Officer (SHO) of Bakshi Nagar Police Station, Azad Manhas, stated that the accused is a resident of Kashmir and a member of a recently dismantled criminal gang. He was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time of his arrest. The situation escalated when the man he allegedly robbed recognized him. A scuffle ensued, during which the accused allegedly attacked the man with a knife, causing injuries. Police patrolling nearby intervened and arrested the suspect after a chase.

Following the arrest, a group of local youths reportedly placed a garland of footwear around the accused's neck. He was then paraded through the streets and briefly made to sit, shirtless, on the bonnet of a police vehicle while officers announced his capture via a public address system. Videos of the incident quickly circulated online, sparking outrage and prompting questions about the legality and ethics of the police action. While some bystanders were seen cheering, many social media users criticized the public shaming.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu, Joginder Singh, condemned the actions of the police personnel involved, calling it "unprofessional and unbecoming of members of a disciplined organization." He has ordered a departmental inquiry into the matter, tasking the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) City North, Jammu, to submit findings within a week.

This incident marks the second instance of public shaming of accused individuals in Jammu this month. On June 11, three men accused of involvement in a shooting were publicly beaten by police after being apprehended. These incidents have raised concerns about the increasing trend of vigilante justice and the need for police to adhere to due process.

Civil society voices have also condemned the incident. Nasir Khuehami, the national convener of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, stated that "Police are not mobs. They are the custodians of the law... The duty of an SHO is to investigate, not adjudicate to uphold justice, not to dispense punishment through public spectacle.” The public shaming has ignited debate and raised serious questions about the role of police in upholding the law and protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of the accusations against them. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.