Saswat Singhdeo

Mayurbhanj: Even though we call ourselves modern, it is unfortunate that regressive rituals and traditions are still part of our society. In Kuchei village of Mayurbhanj district, local tribal residents refused to allow one Kandra Soren to conduct the last rites of his wife, who belonged to a different caste as Soren didn’t pay the penalty amount for marrying outside his caste.

As per the tribal traditions of the village, one has to give a goat, three chickens, 15 kg rice and two earthen pots filled with locally-made liquor as penalty.

Many years back, when Soren had decided to marry the woman outside his caste, little did he know that his relatives and other members of the society will make things so difficult for him?

Soren, who works as a daily wage labourer, said, “They were reluctant to take the penalty amount and didn’t allow me to take the body for cremation.”
Ruhia Murmu, one of Soren’s relatives, said, “He must pay us the penalty amount as this is our tradition and he has to follow it.”

Denied cremation, the dead body emanated foul smell following which the matter was reported to police. Subsequently, a team of cops reached the village and pacified the locals and the body was taken for cremation.

Speaking on the matter, Mayurbhanj Additional Superintendent of Police, Abhimanyu Nayak, said, “The locals finally agreed to resolve the matter after we reached the spot and the situation was brought under control.”

A social worker, Bharati Chakra, said, “No one should stoop to such inhumane behaviour. Together we all should create awareness so that such an incident never happens in our society.”

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