Parents ostracized in Balangir village for girl's marriage
Feb 21,

BALANGIR: A couple was ostracized from a Balangir village and the man asked to tonsure after their daughter married in a different caste. This despite neither the girl's nor the boy's family had any objection to the marriage and they were married at the Sadar police station.

The couple from Sundhi caste had also to give Rs 1,000 to the head priest and a goat to the villagers for a feast. The helpless couple of Kutenpali village, 12 km from here, are now living in a temporary shelter here. The youngest daughter of the couple, Balagdar Mahakud and Binodini Mahakud, had eloped with a boy from Dumbal caste. After Balagdar lodged a complaint, Sadar police brought them to the police station. Their marriage was solemnized at the police station with the consent of both families on January 18.

But three days later, villagers led by the headman and head priest opposed the marriage and asked Mahakud to undergo purifying rituals. He was asked to pay Rs 1000 by the head priest and throw a feast for the villagers. "I paid whatever I was asked to pay for the stable marriage of my daughter. The villagers were still not happy. I was pressurized to leave the village," Balagdar said. The wrath of the villagers did not end there, they asked Balagdar to tonsure. "I had no option. I left the village and also tonsured," said Balagdar, who now has no means of livelihood.

IIC of Sadar police station Deepak Jena said he has sent a police officer to interrogate the girl's parents. "If their interrogation reveals that they were ostracised, we will look into the case," the IIC said. He further said that if the parents give a written complaint, police will take action and if they complain verbally, police will call both the parties and settle the issue