Couple asked to pay ‘tax’ for inter-caste marriage

A couple have been allegedly ordered by a panchayat in Bihar’s Katihar district to pay Rs 50,000 as ‘tax’ for their inter-caste marriage and even been threatened if they failed to do so.

Chhotu Yadav of Gogra village under the Azamnagar police station, 275 km from Patna, had fallen in love with Soni <g data-gr-id="33">Kumai</g> of neighbouring <g data-gr-id="34">Rohia</g> village and belonging to another caste. In November last year, they got married at a court in Katihar, where Yadav worked in a hotel. Both the families had accepted the marriage, but trouble began when the couple returned to Gogra recently.

Yadav on Wednesday said a panchayat meeting was held a month ago allegedly on the orders of three musclemen in the village and a diktat was issued that the couple pay Rs 50,000 fine as the marriage was an inter-caste one.

“They (the panchayat) said this will ensure that no action is taken against us ... The panchayat said the money was a sort of marriage tax and would be spent on <g data-gr-id="37"><g data-gr-id="31">feast</g></g> and for constructing a temple. Since the meeting, the demand was being consistently made <g data-gr-id="32">amd</g> we were also beaten up a few times since then,” Yadav said. 

The couple <g data-gr-id="35">have</g> also been threatened with dire consequences if they did not pay up and are living in fear, claimed his father Puran Yadav. “We have no money. How can we pay? Moreover, when we have accepted the marriage, why are others getting involved in it?” he said. 

The family approached Katihar SP Kshatraneel Singh. Singh said: “The couple and their family members will be given protection. We are waiting for the probe report and will take action against the culprits.” Though no FIR has yet been lodged, two of the three musclemen have fled the village fearing police action.