Girl punished for breaking off marriage 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 members also slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakh fine on her her family and threatened her father that she would be taken away forcibly if he failed to pay the amount.After the scared couple and their family members approached the police for help on Thursday, a case was registered against 11 members of the caste panchayat.
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."
The officer said Kriparam was told to pay a penalty of Rs 10 lakh. "The caste panchayat members threatened that Amka would be kidnapped and handed over to Sawai's family if he did not pay the amount," said the officer.
Superintendent of police Pankaj Kumar Choudhary said the Sangad police station officer had been told to lodge a case and arrest the 11 people named in the report. Police teams have been sent to arrest the panchayat members. "The newlywed couple need not be scared of the caste panchayat," he said. He said the police had provided them security.
Jaisalmer: Marrying the man of her choice proved devastating for an 18-year-old girl and her family in the state's Jaisalmer district. Irked over defying a wedding engagement and marrying another man, a caste panchayat here ostracized the girl, the bridegroom and their family members and forced them to wear garlands of shoes.
The panchayat members slapped a cash fine of Rs 10 lakh on the family members of the girl and threatened her father that she will be taken away forcefully if he fails to pay the amount.
The scared couple and their family members approached police on Thursday with pleas of security and action against the panchayat members. Police said that a case has been registered against 11 members of the caste panchayat.
One Kriparam Meghwal, a resident of Bayeea village, some 50 kilometres from Jaisalmer town, told the police that his daughter Amka Kumari had been engaged with one Sawai Ram a resident of Bheeyad district in Barmer.
"The marriage had not been finalised. The girl's family members came to know that Sawai Ram was an alcoholic and unemployed, so they ended the wedding engagement. The girl agreed to marry one Chama Ram. Amka and Chama Ram tied the knot recently," a police officer said.
When Sawai Ram and his family members came to know about the marriage, they approached the panchayat of Meghwal caste and demanded action against the girl and the bridegroom.
"The caste panchyat held on Thursday that breaking up the engagement with Sawai Singh was against the caste's norms. They summoned the girl, Chama Ram and their family members and forced them to wear garlands of shoes," said a police officer.
The officer added that the girl's father has been asked to pay a penalty of Rs 10 lakh.
"The caste panchayat members threatened that the girl would be kidnapped and handed over to Sawai Ram's family members if he did not pay the amount," said the officer.
SP Pankaj Kumar Choudhary said that action is being taken against the accused people and has ordered Sangad police station officer to lodge the case and arrest the 11 people who have been named in the report. Police teams have been sent to arrest the members of the panchayat.
SP pankaj choudhary said that newly married couple need not be scared of the caste panchayat. He said that police have provided them security.