A tribal couple in Odisha’s Rayagada district were tied to a yoke like bullocks and forced to plough farm land by villagers for being in a relationship and getting married “secretly” against their families’ wishes.
Though the incident occurred on Wednesday at Kanjamjodi village under Kalyansinghpur police limits in the tribal-dominated district, a video of the incident went viral on Friday, sparking outrage.
The video shows the couple with a yoke made of bamboo across their shoulders, tilling the land as a “punishment” that had been awarded by a kangaroo court comprising community members.
A group of villagers, including women and minors, can be seen witnessing the cruel punishment.
According to locals, the villagers and community members also beat the couple and drove them out of the village. Police sources said the couple are in a relative’s house in another village
Locals identified them as a 32-year-old man and his father’s cousin sister, who is roughly the same age as him.
As per tribal customs, marriage within the same clan is prohibited, locals said. In this case, the couple are related as aunt and nephew, making the union taboo, said a local.
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After the public humiliation, the couple was taken to a shrine and subjected to “purification rituals” to cleanse their “sins”, locals said.
The police swung into action after a video of the incident went viral on social media. On Friday, senior police officers visited the village to take stock of the situation and discuss the matter with locals.
Officials said a case is being registered by the Kalyansinghpur police, and action will be taken against those who orchestrated the punishment.
