JOIN USA man, who allegedly eloped with his lover, was punished with 36 shoe lashes on the panchayat’s orders at Doghat in Baghpat district. The panchayat, reportedly attended by representatives of thirty six castes let off the victim with a stern warning on Friday.
According to reports, the lovers had fled from the village about four days back. They were, however, caught by one of the villagers when they were waiting for a train at a nearby railway station.
While the girl was allowed to go with her parents, panchayat deliberated for two hours and decided that he should be punished with 36 shoe lashes inflicted by the caste representatives of the same number.
“Since the man admitted his mistake and vowed never to do it again, he was let off after a mild punishment”, said the village pradha Sahadev Singh.
Doghat police station in-charge Devendra Yadav said the matter will be investigated and the culprits will be sternly dealt with. A month back, a panchayat of several community members at Asara village in the same district, had banned love marriages.