In Odisha’s Koraput district, a young couple reportedly experienced public humiliation and a significant penalty for engaging in an inter-caste marriage, shedding light on the enduring caste-based practices in the region.

The incident took place in the Machhara forest area near Jeypore, where a young man wed a woman from a different caste within the same village. Their marriage faced opposition from community members, resulting in heightened tensions.

A community meeting was held, during which the couple was subjected to traditional punitive measures. The groom was forcibly tonsured, and the bride had her hair cut. Additionally, they were instructed to host a community feast and pay a fine of Rs 90,000 for breaching caste norms.

The feast was organized near the Machhara hills, where community members gathered to collect the penalty amount. The bride was permitted to enter her husband’s home only after fulfilling these conditions.

This incident has sparked concerns regarding the persistence of such regressive practices, even in the presence of legal protections for inter-caste marriages.