Couple in Odisha’s Koraput Forced to Till Land Like Bullocks for Marrying Within Same Lineage
According to local accounts, the couple had eloped earlier and begun living together.
Bhubaneswar: In a grim rerun of the recent Rayagada incident, a young couple in Odisha’s Koraput district was subjected to barbaric punishment for marrying within the same lineage — an act deemed taboo in some tribal communities. A disturbing video of the incident has gone viral, sparking outrage across social media platforms.
The incident, which reportedly took place in Peda Itigi village under Borigi panchayat of Narayanpatna block, involved the couple being tied together and forced to plough a field like yoked bullocks in front of the entire village. The punishment was carried out as part of an alleged “traditional purification ritual” to atone for what the community termed a breach of ancestral custom, sources said on Sunday.
According to local accounts, the couple had eloped earlier and begun living together. While the girl’s family had initially opposed the relationship, they reportedly agreed to condone the marriage on the condition that the couple submit to local customs to ‘cleanse their sin.’ However, instead of reconciliation, the pair was paraded before villagers and subjected to public humiliation.
Shockingly, despite the wide circulation of the video and public outrage, no formal police complaint had been lodged until Sunday evening.
This incident closely mirrors a similar case from neighbouring Rayagada district’s Kalyansinghpur block, where just days ago, a couple faced identical punishment under comparable circumstances — once again highlighting deeply entrenched caste and clan-based prejudices in Odisha’s tribal-dominated areas.
Condemning the act, human rights activists have demanded immediate legal action and state intervention. “These medieval practices have no place in a civilised society. The government must act decisively to end such regressive customs and protect vulnerable communities,” said Sukanta Kumar Mohanty, a Bhubaneswar-based rights advocate.
The state administration is yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
