The police in Bhopal on Sunday arrested four men for allegedly raping a 20-year-old student on Saturday. Officers then paraded the accused through the streets, and women in the crowd were seen slapping them, PTI reported.

Shailendra Dangi, the woman’s senior in college, had an argument with her at a restaurant in Maharana Pratap Nagar locality, after which he took her to his friend Sonu Dangi’s room nearby, said Deputy Inspector General of Police Dharmendra Choudhary. Sonu Dangi and two others – Dhiraj Rajput and Chiman Rajput – were already present in the room. According to the woman’s complaint, Shailendra Dangi and Dhiraj Rajput raped and threatened to kill her while the other two helped them.

Shailendra Dangi was the complainant’s ex-boyfriend, the Hindustan Times reported. Superintendent of Bhopal Police (South) Rahul Lodha said he snatched her cell phone and said she would have to accompany him to his friend’s room if she wanted it back.

All four were charged with gangrape and abduction because they acted with a common intention, said Additional Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar Sahwal. The woman filed a complaint with the Maharana Pratap Nagar Police Station on Sunday, a day after the incident, and the four were arrested within an hour, the deputy inspector general said.

The police in Madhya Pradesh have been parading rape-accused and those who harass women as a way to curb such crimes. Bhopal Inspector General of Police Jaideep Kumar said this practice has instilled fear in offenders and also boosted women’s confidence to come forward to lodge complaints.

The Madhya Pradesh Police resorted to parading such criminals after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered the police to take strict action against the accused.