<p class="title">A youth and a girl, who was said to be his niece, were tied to a tree and thrashed by a mob reportedly on the diktat of a panchayat in Uttar Pradesh's Baharaich district, about 200 kilometre from Lucknow.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to the police sources in Lucknow, the panchayat members accused the two of having illicit relationship and ordered that they be punished in full public view to ''send across a strong message'' to the society.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sources said that the youth had gone to his sister's house in Nawabganj area in the district a few days back.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He was talking to his niece, when some people, who lived in the neighborhood, caught them and claimed that the two were in a ''compromising situation''.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A panchayat was convened in the village the next morning.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The panchayat members ordered them to be publicly thrashed, sources said. The two were then tied to a tree and hit repeatedly with sticks and lathis by a mob.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The matter came to light on Sunday, when a video showing the duo being thrashed went viral.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They sustained serious injuries and were admitted to a hospital, sources said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A case was registered against four people in this regard, police said adding that stern action would be taken against those found guilty.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Earlier, too, the panchayats in the state had punished people for falling in love and marrying against family's wishes of the family.</p>
<p class="title">A youth and a girl, who was said to be his niece, were tied to a tree and thrashed by a mob reportedly on the diktat of a panchayat in Uttar Pradesh's Baharaich district, about 200 kilometre from Lucknow.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to the police sources in Lucknow, the panchayat members accused the two of having illicit relationship and ordered that they be punished in full public view to ''send across a strong message'' to the society.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sources said that the youth had gone to his sister's house in Nawabganj area in the district a few days back.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He was talking to his niece, when some people, who lived in the neighborhood, caught them and claimed that the two were in a ''compromising situation''.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A panchayat was convened in the village the next morning.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The panchayat members ordered them to be publicly thrashed, sources said. The two were then tied to a tree and hit repeatedly with sticks and lathis by a mob.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The matter came to light on Sunday, when a video showing the duo being thrashed went viral.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They sustained serious injuries and were admitted to a hospital, sources said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A case was registered against four people in this regard, police said adding that stern action would be taken against those found guilty.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Earlier, too, the panchayats in the state had punished people for falling in love and marrying against family's wishes of the family.</p>