Woman asked to lick spit for marrying again post-divorce
A 35-year-old woman, who married for a second time post-divorce, was ordered by a caste panchayat of her community to lick spit as punishment in Maharashtra's Akola district, an official said on Friday. "The caste panchayat also ordered the woman to pay Rs. one lakh to it for her act," he said. Showing courage, the woman defied both diktats and lodged a police complaint.
FIR was registered against ten members of caste panchayat
"The incident took place last month, but came to light when a case was registered against the unofficial village council," he said. "On the victim's complaint, who stays in Jalgaon district, an FIR under Sections 5 and 6 of Maharashtra Protection of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016, has been registered against ten members of caste panchayat," the official said.
Case was transferred for investigation to Pinjar Police Station
"The FIR was registered on Thursday evening at Jalgaon's Chopda City Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the woman resides, and later the case was transferred for investigation to the Pinjar Police Station in Akola where the incident took place," he said.
The caste panchayat did not accept her second marriage
"According to the complaint, the incident took place on April 9 at Wadgaon village in Akola, where the caste panchayat was called to take a decision on the second marriage of the victim," he said. "The victim belongs to the Nath Jogi community, whose caste panchayat did not accept her second marriage," the official said.
Victim divorced in 2015 and married again in 2019
"The victim got married for the second time in 2019 after divorce from her first husband in 2015," the official said. "Her first marriage was in 2011," he said. "At the caste panchayat meeting, members discussed the woman's second marriage and called her sister and relatives, and delivered their verdict on the issue (the victim was not present at the meet)," the official said.
Caste panchayat also demanded Rs. 1 lakh from her
"According to the verdict, members of the caste panchayat were to spit on banana leaves and the victim was to lick it as a punishment," the official said. "Besides, the caste panchayat sought a payment of Rs. one lakh from the victim," he said.
Victim's relatives conveyed the decision to her
"After fulfilling these demands by the panchayat, the victim was told she can return to her community," he said. The caste panchayat's decision was conveyed to the victim by her relatives. "She approached the Chopda City Police Station and lodged the complaint against panchayat members," said Pravin Munde, Superintendent of Police, Jalgaon. "The case has been transferred to Akola for further investigation," he said.
