An Indian man accused of attempting to rape has been granted bail on condition that he washes women clothes for six months.
20-year old Lalan Kumar will wash the clothes of all the women in his village and iron them according to the ruling made by the court.
The accused will buy detergents and other required items to aid his work for the said period of time.
According to, Santosh Kumar Singh, a police officer in Bihar’s Madhubani district, Kumar who washes clothes for a living was arrested in April. However no date has been set for his trial.
Nasima Khatoon, the head of the village council, revealed that the women in the village are very happy following the court’s decision adding that the move will boost respect for women
“It is historic. It will boost respect for women and help to protect dignity,” said Khatoon.
Khatoon is among the dignitaries who will monitor Kumar as he carries out his punishment.
About 2000 women are set to benefit from the court’s order. They noted that the order will bring a positive impact by making crime against women a subject of discussion in their community.
“This is a remarkable step and a different kind of punishment that sends a message to society,” said one of the women.
India’s rape laws were overhauled after a 2012 gang rape in New Delhi but the number of offences remains high, with more than 28,000 rapes reported in 2020.
Police have long been accused of not doing enough to prevent violent crime and failing to bring sexual assault cases to court.
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