Husband forced to announce wife's 'mistake' via gong

Ward member Mallika Sahoo voted for a nominee of her choice, which against the interests of the Kangaroo court. Her husband was directed to pay up Rs 50,000 or play the gong around the village announcing the 'mistake' she allegedly did. He was forced to announce 'I’m playing the gong as my wife has committed a mistake by going against the wishes of villagers'.

In a bizarre, yet humiliating verdict by a Kangaroo court in Odisha's Gudiapa village in Angul district, a ward member's husband was forced to play the gong and announce about the mistake that she has done. This punishment was given to him to avenge the woman's decision to cast the vote of her choice and not acting according to the whims and fancies of the kangaroo court. The incident happened during the panchayat polls that took place recently. 

According to inside reports, ward member Mallika Sahoo did not vote for the person chosen by the villagers. Hence, her husband Dushmant Sahoo, was asked to repay for her mistake by paying up Rs 50,000 or playing the gong and announcing what his wife had done. He was also asked to announce, "Mu Ghanta Pituchhi kahikina Mo stree bhul karichhi (I’m playing the gong as my wife has committed a mistake by going against the wishes of villagers)”.

Some social workers took notice of the incident and informed the police. Subsequently, the police registered a case against 52 persons after finding prima facie evidence about the humiliating verdict. Meanwhile, petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his condemnation about the incident on Twitter.

Dharmendra Pradhan said that these incidents do not happen in civilised societies and are highly condemnable. These cannot be accepted.  All the people who have deprived this man of his dignity will pay for it.