The incident in Saraikela, Jharkhand, involving a husband, wife, and the wife’s boyfriend, has sparked significant debate. A village panchayat made an unusual ruling, permitting the wife to leave with her lover in the presence of her husband. The boyfriend was also subjected to a fine. The police were not permitted to interfere. The incident unfolded in Palashdih village, under the jurisdiction of the RIT police station.
Reports indicate that the boyfriend and another individual were apprehended by villagers while visiting the married woman. Subsequently, a panchayat was convened. The panchayat ruled that the woman should leave with her boyfriend, with her husband present. The villagers strongly opposed police involvement.
A young man from Chilgu Panchayat, Chandil, along with his friend, drove to Palashdih, Sitrampur, on Monday night to meet his girlfriend. They were intercepted by villagers as they were leaving with the woman in the car. The boyfriend and his friend were pulled from the car and assaulted. Following this, the woman and the two men were taken hostage.
On receiving information, SDPO Sameer Kumar Savaiya and RIT police station in-charge Vinay Kumar Singh, along with their teams, arrived on the scene. They attempted to reason with the villagers, but the villagers insisted it was a social issue and resisted police involvement. The police were forced to withdraw due to the strong opposition. However, the police remained at the location to prevent any potential adverse events.
In accordance with social customs, a village assembly meeting was held. After the meeting, all parties departed with mutual agreement. The panchayats of the woman’s in-laws, her parents, and her boyfriend’s village convened. The panchayat, which continued from morning to evening, reached a decision that shocked the woman’s husband. The lover was fined one lakh, and the woman was permitted to depart with her lover. She was divorced on the spot and sent with her boyfriend. The case has become widely discussed.