Berhampur: In a shocking case of caste-based discrimination and social ostracism in Odisha’s Ganjam district, a family in Arjunpalli village under Kabisuryanagar police limits has allegedly been boycotted by fellow villagers for selling a portion of their land to a person from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.
According to sources, Dayanidhi Gouda, who resides in the village with his wife, son, and three daughters, sold parts of his farmland about four years ago to cover expenses for the marriages of his children. His eldest daughter has already been married, with arrangements finalised for the remaining children.
The land transaction allegedly sparked outrage among upper-caste villagers, who viewed the sale to an SC buyer as a violation of local social norms. In response, villagers held a meeting and imposed an initial fine of Rs 3,500 on Gouda. He paid the amount and signed an undertaking promising not to sell land to “outsiders”, also implying those from other castes in the future.
However, tensions escalated when another meeting was convened on March 16 and the villagers allegedly imposed a much steeper penalty of Rs 7 lakh or an equivalent portion of land on Gouda. When he failed to comply, the family faced severe social boycott, which included no access to the village temple, local shops, roads, water sources, washerman services, and other community support systems, leading to significant mental distress and isolation.
After months of enduring the ostracism, Gouda and his son Anil Kumar Gouda approached Kabisuryanagar police station to file a formal complaint, seeking intervention and justice. They further alleged that villagers had fenced off the disputed land parcel.
A video purportedly showing the village meeting and the boycott decision has been doing the rounds on social media, highlighting the issue and drawing attention to persistent caste prejudices in rural areas of the state.
Kabisuryanagar police station in-charge Nitesh Kumar Mishra confirmed that an investigation is underway.
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