<p>Yet another girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Jat land paid with her life for falling in love.<br />The girl, who refused to desert her lover as ordered by the panchayat of her village in Baghpat district, was allegedly strangled on Sunday night. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Her remains were consigned to flames in the wee hours even before police could be informed about the incident.<br /><br />According to reports, Ranjana (name changed), a resident of Nibali village in the district, was having an affair with a youth of a nearby village for the last few years. But her family members did not approve of their relationship and had warned her against continuing it.<br /><br />A panchayat of community elders had been convened in the village three days ago to discuss the matter. <br /><br />According to witnesses, the panchayat had ordered the girl to forget her lover, and had warned of serious consequences.<br /><br />Nobody helped<br /><br />The girl was allegedly thrashed and then strangled late on Sunday night. While neighbours did hear her cries for help, none dared to rush to her rescue, reports said. <br />She was cremated in the wee hours even before police could be informed.<br /><br />“Some people claimed that it was an honour killing, but the girl’s family said she died of illness,” a police official said. “The matter will be investigated.”<br /><br />Two months ago, a panchayat of several community members in Asara village in the same district had banned love marriages and had warned of punishment if its orders were violated.<br /><br />The Asara panchayat had declared that those marrying against the wishes of the family won’t be allowed to live in the village. <br /><br />“Love marriages will not be accepted. Such couples will be thrown out of villages,” the panchayat, attended by members of at least 36 communities, including Hindus and Muslims, had declared.<br /><br />Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh are infamous for their insensitive and at times bizarre diktats. <br /><br />They are also known to have pronounced death penalty for lovers and even let off rape accused by imposing fines.<br /></p>
<p>Yet another girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Jat land paid with her life for falling in love.<br />The girl, who refused to desert her lover as ordered by the panchayat of her village in Baghpat district, was allegedly strangled on Sunday night. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Her remains were consigned to flames in the wee hours even before police could be informed about the incident.<br /><br />According to reports, Ranjana (name changed), a resident of Nibali village in the district, was having an affair with a youth of a nearby village for the last few years. But her family members did not approve of their relationship and had warned her against continuing it.<br /><br />A panchayat of community elders had been convened in the village three days ago to discuss the matter. <br /><br />According to witnesses, the panchayat had ordered the girl to forget her lover, and had warned of serious consequences.<br /><br />Nobody helped<br /><br />The girl was allegedly thrashed and then strangled late on Sunday night. While neighbours did hear her cries for help, none dared to rush to her rescue, reports said. <br />She was cremated in the wee hours even before police could be informed.<br /><br />“Some people claimed that it was an honour killing, but the girl’s family said she died of illness,” a police official said. “The matter will be investigated.”<br /><br />Two months ago, a panchayat of several community members in Asara village in the same district had banned love marriages and had warned of punishment if its orders were violated.<br /><br />The Asara panchayat had declared that those marrying against the wishes of the family won’t be allowed to live in the village. <br /><br />“Love marriages will not be accepted. Such couples will be thrown out of villages,” the panchayat, attended by members of at least 36 communities, including Hindus and Muslims, had declared.<br /><br />Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh are infamous for their insensitive and at times bizarre diktats. <br /><br />They are also known to have pronounced death penalty for lovers and even let off rape accused by imposing fines.<br /></p>