Family Ostracized for Three Months by Khap Panchayat in Chittorgarh, Grocery Shop Forced to Shut as Village Imposes Social Boycott

Chittorgarh/Rajasthan - For the past three months, a family in Dola Ji Ka Kheda, a Gurjar-dominated village in Gangrar, Chittorgarh, has been enduring a brutal social boycott ordered by a khap panchayat. The Suwalka family’s grocery shop, their sole source of income, has been forced to shut, villagers have cut off all contact, and even a drummer was barred from performing at a family event. This case highlights how khap panchayats in rural Rajasthan continue to defy the law with impunity.

The trouble began when Satyanarayan Suwalka’s family legally purchased a plot of land from a Bhilwara resident. When they started fencing the property, Sohan Gurjar, the previous owner, claimed it was grazing land and pressured them to halt construction. After negotiations failed, Gurjar filed a complaint alleging encroachment.

Revenue officials issued a notice and visited the site, but when the Suwalka family pointed out encroachments by other influential individuals—including a local representative—the authorities left without taking further action. Later, the administration selectively removed only the Suwalka family’s fencing while ignoring illegal occupations by others.

On March 29, the khap panchayat ordered a complete social boycott of the Suwalka family. Speaking to The Mooknayak, Satyanarayan revealed: "No one in the village interacts with us anymore. Even relatives were threatened when they invited me to a recent wedding in our family."

The family—including his wife, two children, and a 90-year-old ailing grandmother—now lives in fear. "If a medical emergency arises, no one will help us reach the hospital," he said. Of the 80 families in the village, most are Gurjars, leaving others too intimidated to intervene.

This isn’t the first such incident. A Garg family was similarly ostracized years ago and spent 2-3 years in isolation before being "reintegrated."

Despite complaints to the tehsildar and police, no action has been taken. The Naib Tehsildar, Rampal Khatik, claimed ignorance: "We acted against encroachment. If a boycott is happening, the collector must order action."

Anganwadi worker Tara Baheti confirmed the boycott but admitted higher authorities haven’t been informed.

When Satyanarayan approached Gangrar police station, his complaint was delayed for days before being registered on June 16—without an FIR. SHO DP Dadhich stated they are "investigating the land dispute."

"No panchayat has the right to socially boycott anyone. The members should be punished, but the administration and police remain silent," said Satyanarayan.

This case highlights the unchecked power of khap panchayats and raises urgent questions: How long will such feudal injustices persist in modern India?