By IANS,
Lucknow : A village council in Uttar Pradesh forced a love-struck couple to slap each other with shoes after they were caught sitting together in a park.
Amar Singh, 26, and Omwati, 21, both residents of the Dhanari village in Badaun district, about 250 km from here, were Wednesday evening made to beat each other in full public view on the directions of the village council.
“Initially, the couple refused to obey the panchayat’s order. But they agreed after members of the panchayat said they would have to leave the village along with their parents of they defied the order,” Khempal, a resident of the village, told reporters.
“The panchayat members also made it clear that the next time they were caught, they and their families would have to leave and also pay a fine of Rs.20,000,” he added.
According to locals, Amar Singh and Omwati had been going out for over a year. Omwati’s family spotted them sitting together in the park. When news spread, a meeting of the panchayat was convened.
“The matter is serious. We will take stern action against those who forced the couple to beat each other,” Superintendent of Police (rural) K.K. Pushkar told IANS.