Woman refuses to marry mentally unstable man, faces boycott

Jaipur, Jan 24 (IANS) A Rajasthan community panchayat has ordered a social boycott of a 20-year old woman and her family after she refused to marry a mentally unstable man, with whom she was engaged 15 years ago, police said Thursday.

The incident occurred in Khinwara area of Pali district, 400 km from here. The panchayat members made the family pay Rs.63,000 as fine and asked other villagers not to mingle with them and invite them to social functions.

The girl lodged a first information report (FIR) against some panchayat members with Khinwara police station Wednesday.

“The girl whose name is not being disclosed on her request had been engaged with a boy from a nearby village when she was about five years old,” a police officer told IANS.

The girl and her family members came to know recently that the would-be bridegroom was mentally unstable.

“The girl and her parents refused to get her married with the man and broke the engagement. The family members were trying to get her married to someone else recently,” said the officer.

When the local community panchayat in her village came to know about the girl’s decision, they called a meeting and ordered that the girl and her family members, including her parents and two siblings be boycotted.

“Following the panchayat order, the family has paid Rs 63,000. They approached the police when they were privented from fetching water from the public hand pump and getting grocery items from the village shops,” said the officer.

“We have registered a case against some panchayat members including Himmatram, Hajariram, Ograram, Mangaram, Bhanaram Chelaram and Mishri Lal,” said the officer.

IANS 2013-01-24 12:52:06