Villagers in Sunderbans led by panchayat members tonsured and paraded a couple in their 40s for their alleged extra martial affair in Jhurpati village, Sunderbans, in South 24 Parganas on Sunday.
Parimal Sardar and Manju Sardar were missing last week but returned to their respective homes late on Saturday, leading villagers to believe the two were having an affair. No police case was registered though as the victims sought a truce with their families.
On Sunday morning, Parimal’s wife Pushpadhara reportedly complained to a gathering of villagers who dragged the two suspected adulterers from their homes. The mob, which included many women, slapped the couple and shaved their heads before blackening their faces with ink and parading them through the village.
Police intervened a few hours into the assault and counselled the two married couples involved. “We could not take any actions as the victims themselves wanted an amicable solution with their better halves,” a police officer said.
“This is not the first time that the duo eloped. Pushpadhara and Manju’s husband Bideshi lodged several complaints in the past with the local panchyat and we warned them on every occasion. This time villagers decided to teach them a lesson. Both had children older than 18 years,” said Amori Sardar, the local village panchayat pradhan who reportedly led the mob of women.
{{/usCountry}}“This is not the first time that the duo eloped. Pushpadhara and Manju’s husband Bideshi lodged several complaints in the past with the local panchyat and we warned them on every occasion. This time villagers decided to teach them a lesson. Both had children older than 18 years,” said Amori Sardar, the local village panchayat pradhan who reportedly led the mob of women.
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