Lovers tonsured, paraded on panchayat's order

Infamous for their bizarre diktats and disapproval of love marriages, an Uttar Pradesh panchayat once again humiliated two lovers before ordering them to leave the village.

The lovers were allegedly tonsured and paraded in the lanes of the village for the ‘offence’ on the order of the panchayat after which they were banished from the village with the warning that they should never come back.

The shocking incident occurred at Tisauri village in UP’s Jaunpur district on Wednesday. Police have registered a case and three persons have been detained in this connection.

According to reports, a youth of the village was having an affair with an 18-year-old girl of the same village for the past few years. They belonged to the same caste.

Since their families were opposed to their relationship, the two eloped from the village last week.

Their family members, however, hatched a conspiracy to make them return to the village. They told the two lovers their marriage would be solemnised if they came back.

The unsuspecting lovers returned after getting the assurance but they were instead taken to a panchayat convened to discuss the matter.

The panchayat said their act had brought a bad name to the village and they must be punished for it.

The two were then tonsured and paraded in the village. They were asked to leave the village and live separately.

The youth, however, went with his lover to a relative of his and narrated the incident. A police team later reached the village and apprehended three persons.
The matter is being investigated, police said.