A controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after a video surfaced showing police officers garlanding an alleged thief with shoes and parading him through the streets of Jammu. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, has sparked outrage on social media, prompting an official inquiry into the police's conduct.

The individual in question was apprehended by locals in the Bakshi Nagar area for allegedly stealing ₹40,000 from a man who was buying medicines. According to reports, after being chased, the accused injured the man with a knife. When the police arrived, they found that the public had already beaten the suspect and torn his shirt. In an attempt to pacify the crowd, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Bakshi Nagar police station, Azad Manhas, decided to have the accused sit on the bonnet of a police vehicle.

Subsequently, the police team, along with some locals, paraded the man through the streets. He was bare-chested, handcuffed, and adorned with a garland of shoes and slippers. The police used a public address system to announce his arrest for stealing the money. A video of the incident shows bystanders filming and cheering as the man was publicly humiliated.

The video quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from social media users who questioned the legality and ethics of the police's actions. Many termed the incident a violation of human rights and an example of "jungle raj." Some netizens tagged Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, DGP Nalin Prabhat, and the National Human Rights Commission, demanding accountability.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Joginder Singh condemned the incident, calling the police personnel's actions "unprofessional" and "unbecoming of the members of a disciplined organization." He has ordered a departmental inquiry into the matter, tasking a Deputy Superintendent of Police to submit a report within a week. The police department has stated that it does not condone such behavior and will take strict action against the officers involved.

This is not the first instance of such an incident in Jammu recently. Last week, two youths accused of snatching a gold chain were paraded barefoot in Janipur. On June 11, a group of criminals involved in a shooting in Gangyal were beaten up and paraded by the police.

The incident has raised concerns about the methods employed by the police and whether they adhere to the rule of law. Some social media users described the incident as "medieval vigilantism" and "an assault on human dignity." Others emphasized that law enforcers must not become lawbreakers and demanded immediate accountability. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched an inquiry and promised strict action to prevent such incidents from happening again.