In a shocking and disturbing incident, a young couple in Odisha’s Rayagada was allegedly tied to a wooden yoke like oxen and forced to plough a field by an agitated mob as a punishment for marrying against local societal norms.
The incident, which was captured on camera, triggered outrage on social media and led to a police investigation.
As per the media reports, the couple, hailing from Kanjamajhira village in Rayagada district, had fallen in love recently and got married. Some villagers, however, were against their decision because the man is the son of the woman’s paternal aunt. Such a marriage is considered taboo as per local customs.
To punish the couple, the agitated mob tied the couple to a wooden yoke resembling that used by bullocks to plough fields. They were reportedly made to drag a wooden plough across a field in front of hundreds of villagers, who watched the act unfold without intervention.
The apparatus, made of bamboo and wooden logs, was fastened to the couple’s shoulders. Just like oxen, they were yoked together and forced to plough.
In the video, two men can be seen even beating the couple with sticks as they drag the wooden beam across the field.
Reportedly, following this public humiliation, the couple was taken to the village shrine and forced to undergo so-called purification rituals, meant to “cleanse" their alleged moral transgression.
Superintendent of Police S Swati Kumar said on Friday that a team has visited the village to carry out an investigation and a case will be registered soon.
Source: News18
