36 families ex-communicated in pithapuram

Pithapuram: In all, 36 Christian families of Ponnada were excommunicated on Sunday by fishermen community elders for refusing to contribute Rs 3000 by each family to the local goddess Nerellamma festival.

Several fishermen youth of the village and also Karri Rambabau, a Christian who is running a grocery store, expressed their inability to pay the sum, which is being collected for the fair from the youth casting their net to catch fish.Rambabu on the grounds of being a Christian refused to pay the sum.

But the fishermen community elders ruled that it is mandatory for him to contribute the sum. Some of the fishermen youth of Hindu community voiced similar sentiments. Then the matter was referred to elders of six fishermen’s villages. The panchayat ruled that the donation was mandatory and excommunicated Rambabu’s family.

It was announced by beating of drums that no villager should buy goods from his family and none should attend events taking place at his home. When 36 Christian families came to Rambabu’s rescue they were also ex-communicated. However, the whole village stood by Rambabu and denounced the caste elders’ decision.

Tahsildar Ratnakumar visited the village and Pithapuram circle inspector Appa Rao is investigating the case.