By IANS,
Jhajjar (Haryana): Tension continued to prevail in some villages of this Haryana district Friday with members of a khap panchayat (caste council) camping on one side of the Dharana village border and large number of police personnel standing guard on the other side.
Jhajjar Deputy Commissioner Saket Kumar told IANS Friday: “Around 50-60 members of a khap are still sitting on the border of Chimni and Dharana village since yesterday (Thursday). They are demanding that the Gehlout family leave the village.”
“Though they are sitting there peacefully but we still cannot take chances. Heavy security has been deployed in every nook and corner of the village and (prohibitory orders under) section 144 has been imposed here,” he added.
Over 200 members of the Kadyan khap panchayat had walked towards Dharana village Thursday in a bid to oust the Gehlout family.
“We are determined on our stand that the Gehlout family should leave the village. We will sit here on peaceful protest till they leave the village. A mega khap meeting has been called Aug 9 to decide our future course of action,” said a senior member of the Kadyan khap panchayat.
The Gehlout family was asked to leave Dharana village after Ravinder Singh Gehlout, 24, married a 20-year-old girl from the Kadiyan clan.
One of the khap councils, notorious for their vicious campaign against couples getting married within the same clan, accused him of violating a custom of no-marriage between the sects of Gehlout and Kadiyan as they have a “brotherhood” akin to consanguinity.
Due to mounting pressure from the khap, Ravinder tried to commit suicide. His family left for a relative’s house in another village but returned amid security cover.