Bhubaneswar: Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report about social boycott of the family over inter-caste marriage in Odisha’s Rayagada district, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a detailed report from the state government
Reportedly, the villagers demanded a purification ritual if the family of the woman, who belongs to Scheduled Tribe (ST), wanted to be accepted back into the community and were threatened with an indefinite boycott in case they refused to comply with the ritual.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of the human rights of the victims. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks, official sources said on Wednesday.
According to the media report, carried on June 21, the members of the family of the woman reportedly succumbed to the diktat of the villagers, and as a part of the ritual, the heads of 40 members of her family were tonsured.
It may be noted that, at least 40 members of a tribal woman’s family were forces to tonsure their heads as part of a purification ritual after she married a man from a different caste at a village in Kashipur area of Rayagada district.
As per sources, the incident took place at Baiganaguda village under Gorakhpur panchayat of Kashipur block in the district on June 19.
Locals said the cleansing ritual included the sacrifice of goats, chicken, and pigs before the local deity as per traditional customs observed by the community.
Despite opposition from her family and villagers, the woman belonging to a Scheduled Tribe (ST) recently married a man from Scheduled Caste (SC) category. Despite opposition from her family and villagers,
Villagers were angry over the inter-caste marriage and held a community meeting that mandated the purification ritual to ‘atone’ for the perceived breach of social norms.
Men of the woman’s extended family were made to perform animal sacrifices and undergo the customary head-shaving as an act of penance. The family was reportedly warned of potential social ostracism if they refused to comply.
The incident triggered widespread after a video of the ritual circulated widely on social media. In response, the district administration ordered an investigation by Kashipur block development officer (BDO).
