Caste panchayat slaps ₹20 L fine on family

A Barmer caste panchayat has passed a diktat ordering a family to pay ₹20 lakh to avoid social boycott after the family married off their daughter against the panchayat’s wishes.

The victim alleged that the caste panchayat members have threatened to cancel the wedding or they would kidnap and kill their daughter. Fearing for their daughter’s life, the family approached the district police on Thursday for help.

Gagandeep Singla, superintendent of police in Barmer, after confirming the report, said that the family sought help in the matter. He said that he has directed the police station concerned to probe the matter and take action.

Jamana Devi, a resident of Bajrangpura village, under Chohtan police station area in Barmer, along with her son Jagdish and daughter Tuggi, met the Barmer police chief on Thursday and gave him a memorandum.

The victim mentioned that she had married off her daughter Tuggi with Ummeda Ram, a resident of Barmer city on April 28 this year.

She alleged that soon after the marriage, caste panchayat members have started threatening her as she had married off her daughter against their wish. She said that initially they had threatened to abduct and kill her daughter but later they passed a dictate of social boycott.

She further added that the members have warned them to pay the amount to avoid boycott. She said that she will not be able to afford the amount and sought help from the police.

BARMER: