Jhansi- A village panchayat in Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh has sparked outrage after issuing a draconian diktat against residents who support an inter-caste marriage between a woman constable and her colleague. The shocking decree includes a Rs 50,000 fine and public shoe thrashing for anyone interacting with the couple's family, exposing the brutal reality of caste discrimination still prevalent in rural India.

The woman constable, posted in Lucknow, had married a sub-inspector from the Patel community on April 30, 2025, with the consent of both families. However, the union triggered outrage among some villagers, leading to extreme measures.

The panchayat, allegedly convened by village leader Santosh Yadav, declared the inter-caste marriage "wrong" and ordered a complete social boycott of the constable's family. The punishment included cutting off their access to social interaction (communal water and tobacco—a traditional form of ostracization known as hukka-paani ban.) Even more disturbingly, the panchayat decreed that any villager who interacted with the family would face a ₹50,000 fine and public humiliation in the form of shoe thrashing—a brutal and degrading punishment.

The victim's father, Chiranji Lal, filed a police complaint, leading to an FIR against Santosh Yadav. A video recording of the panchayat proceedings, submitted as evidence, confirmed the threats and discriminatory rulings. The constable’s uncle, Virendra Yadav, expressed frustration over the boycott, stating, "We have no problem with the marriage, but the village has isolated us completely. No one dares to speak to us now."

While some villagers denied the panchayat’s existence, the video proof has strengthened the case. Police are investigating, but the incident highlights the deep-rooted caste prejudices that persist in rural India despite laws against such social boycotts. The family now lives in fear, caught between legal recourse and the harsh reality of village justice.

This case has reignited debates over caste discrimination and the unchecked power of khap panchayats, raising urgent questions about the enforcement of constitutional rights in India’s hinterlands.