Uttar Pradesh panchayat bans mobiles to stem elopement

Youngsters eloping? Take away their cellphones so that they can't plan their elopement! That's the order a panchayat in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnore district, about 400 km from here, has passed.

The panchayat, held at Shadipur village in the district on Thursday, was reportedly attended by a large number of people from both Hindu and Muslim communities. It had been convened after the elopement of four lovers from the village within a span of 10 days. The village has a population of about 5,000, according to reports.

Apparently, the villagers felt that the lovers managed to elope only because they had cellphones to speak to each other and plan their strategy.

“Cellphones play a very crucial role in elopement as lovers keep in touch through them,” said Praveen Singh, husband of the Shadipur's village chief.

Singh said banning cellphones would also have other advantages. “Youngsters will be saved from obscenity. Their studies will not be affected and they will not be able to spread rumours. It will save money as well,” he added.

The village chief, Premvati, said the parents had agreed to the panchayat's decision to ban use of cellphones by boys and girls. “A fine will be imposed on youngsters if they are found to be violating the diktat,” she said.

Singh said the panchayat had also ordered that no boy would be allowed to stand anywhere near schools when girls go there or return.