Panchayat's inhumane treatment to lovers

According to reports, a caste panchayat in Kushinagar district, about 325 kilometres from here, punished two lovers for their “illicit affairs” by cutting their hair in public before ordering them to leave the village immediately.

The lovers were also awarded ten lashes.

Ironically, Kushinagar is a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site known all over the world. Gautam Buddha had died at Kushinagar.

Sources said one Parmeshwar Gaud of Gaurahan Bazar tola had an affair with a married woman, Naina Devi, of the same village for the past few years.
On Wednesday night the villagers allegedly caught Parmeshwar with Naina in a house in the village.

Although they were let off after being thrashed, a caste panchayat was convened the next day to deliberate the matter.

Sternly punished
The panchayat members said the duo had brought a bad name to their village and must be sternly punished.

Accordingly they were hit ten times with a stick and their heads shaved before being asked to leave their village.

According to reports, some members of the panchayat also allegedly misbehaved with Naina Devi and tried to tear her dress.

The lovers, however, approached the police and registered a case against eight members of the panchayat. Two persons have been taken into custody in regard with this matter, police said.