Odisha tribal couple paraded with wooden plough over same-clan marriage

Koraput: A young couple in Odisha's Koraput district was allegedly tied to a wooden plough and paraded through their village for marrying within the same clan, police said. The incident occurred on Sunday in Nadimeitiki village, located in the tribal-dominated Narayanpatna block.

A video of the incident has gone viral, purportedly showing the couple tied to a plough and parading through the village.

Local residents claim the couple's love marriage violated tribal customs, as both belonged to the same clan—an act considered taboo. Following the public humiliation, village elders reportedly performed a 'purification ritual' to symbolically 'cleanse' the community.

"According to our tradition, such relationships are believed to bring misfortune, especially affecting crops. This symbolic punishment was a warning," said Nagesh Tandi, a villager. After the ritual, the couple was permitted to stay with the husband's father, he added.

Narayanpatna IIC Pramod Nayak confirmed that police have taken cognisance of the video. "A team has been sent to investigate. The matter is under inquiry," he said.

This marks the second such incident reported in Odisha within a week. In a similar case in Rayagada district on Wednesday, a young man and woman were paraded with a yoke strapped to their shoulders and forced to plough a field in front of villagers and community elders.

(inputs from PTI)