Khap panchayat drives youth to suicide in Odisha

Malkangiri: A youth ended his life on Friday allegedly after being harassed and humiliated by khap panchayat at Kalimela MV-20 village.

The deceased identified as Dibakar Bepari resorted to the extreme after the local kangaroo court slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 for helping a minor girl in her affair with a youth of the same village.

Dibakar was also physically tortured in front of the village, the family members alleged.

"They took my brother at around 10 pm and had a meeting till 2 am in the village. They accused him of supporting and helping a girl in her relationship with another youth and beat him black and blue. They also slapped a fine of Rs 25, 000," said deceased Dibakar's brother, Rabindra Bepari.

Kalimela Inspector-in-charge, Laxmi Narayan Muduli said, "We have received a complaint in connection with the incident. From preliminary investigation it is suspected that Dibakar took the extreme step after losing his mental balance following some harassment after the village meeting.”

The body has been sent for post-mortem and further investigation in connection with the case is on, Muduli added.