Girl punished for breaking off alliance

JAISALMER: A caste panchayat in Jaisalmer has ostracized a newlywed couple and their families, and forced them to wear garlands of shoes — all because the 18-year-old woman broke a previous wedding arrangement and married another man.
The panchayat slapped Rs 10 lakh fine on her family and threatened her father that she would be taken away forcibly if he failed to pay the amount. After the couple and their family members approached the police, a case was registered against 11 members of the caste panchayat.
Teams sent to arrest 11 panchayat members
One Kriparam Meghwal, a resident of Bayeea village, some 50km from Jaisalmer town, told the police his daughter Amka Kumari had been engaged to one Sawai Ram, a resident of Bheeyad in Barmer. “The marriage had not been finalized ,” a police officer said. “After the woman’s family came to know Sawai was an alcoholic and unemployed, they broke off the engagement. Amka agreed to marry one Chama Ram, and they tied the knot recently.”
Sawai and his family then approached the panchayat of Meghwal caste and demanded action against Amka and Chama. “On Thursday the caste panchayat held that breaking off the engagement with Sawai was against the caste’s norms,” said the officer. “They summoned Amka, Chama and their family members, and forced them to wear garlands of shoes.”
SP Pankaj Kumar Choudhary said teams have been sent to arrest 11 panchayat members.