In a disturbing recurrence of traditional justice, a tribal couple from Chidi Balsa village under Bandhugaon block in Odisha was publicly humiliated for marrying within the same clan—a practice considered taboo in their community.
The villagers, adhering to ancestral customs, forced the couple to parade through the village holding a plough, symbolically treating them like livestock.
This incident mirrors a similar case from Pedaitiki village in Narayanpatna block, where another couple was made to drag a plough tied to their backs. In both cases, the punishment stems from the tribal belief that children of the same clan are akin to siblings, and any romantic or marital relationship between them invites misfortune upon the village.
Despite previous awareness campaigns by local administration and police, such practices persist. A video of the recent incident has gone viral, prompting renewed concern among authorities. The couple, reportedly related as brother and sister under tribal lineage norms, was subjected to the punishment in full public view.
According to tribal tradition, violating the clan-based marriage taboo is believed to bring calamity to the entire village. Hence, the symbolic act of ploughing is enforced as a form of social correction. The administration is expected to intervene again, but whether this incident leads to lasting change remains uncertain.
