Tribal family ostracised for supporting inter-caste marriage

Eluru: A family was ostracised for planning to perform an inter-caste marriage at Mallappagudem village in T Narsapuram Mandal in West Godavari district.The incident came to light when the kin of the victim complained the matter to T Narsapuram police on Saturday.According to sources, Putta Parvathi (20), a Scheduled Tribe of Mallappagudem village in T Narsapuram mandal was in love with a youth R Ravi (26), a Scheduled Caste of Battuvarigudem village in Chintalapudi Mandal.

Even as the duo belong to different castes, both the family members agreed for their marriage. It was decided to perform the marriage within 20 days, ten days ago. However, the village elders of Mallappagudem who belong to Scheduled Tribe have conducted a Panchayati against the inter-caste marriage of Putta Parvathi. They directed the family members of Parvathi to pay a fine of Rs 30,000. As the family members were not in a position to pay the penalty, the elders asked them not to enter into the village for one week and pay the fine in a week.

As such restrictions were imposed upon the family, they are residing aloof in the outskirts of the village. Though the village elders were counseled by the police against the act, the elders did not heed to the advices.Meanwhile, some people forcibly entered into their house on Friday evening and took away the motorbike of Parvati’s brother Venkanna Babu. Parvathi, her brother Venkanna Babu, his wife and two children are living in exile.