Even in 21st century India, women continue to face atrocities and prejudices of the most unimaginable kinds.
Two sisters from Kolhapur in Maharashtra are facing divorce orders after one of them failed to clear a ‘virginity test’, timesnownews.com reported.
The sisters got married to a pair of brothers. They were then asked to demonstrate whether their hymen was intact, as per the Kanjarbhat community’s controversial tradition.
The brides had intercourse with their respective husbands on a plain white cloth in separate rooms.
One of the sisters passed the ‘test, as there were bloodstains on the white cloth. The other woman, however, didn’t bleed during intercourse and was accused of being involved with other man/men.
The grooms and family members then demanded Rs 10 lakh from the sisters and threatened to banish them if the money was not arranged. Not being in a position to afford that kind of money, the sisters were physically assaulted before being and sent back to their parents’ home.
The brides’ mother then complained to ‘jaat (caste) panchayat’ members, who asked for Rs 40,000 to resolve the matter, The Indian Express reported.
The girls’ family managed to arrange the money and handed it over to members of the panchayat, who called a meeting in February.
“The complainant alleged that members of this panchayat consented to end the marriage. The complainant also alleged that she was boycotted by her community,” The Indian Express quoted an official as saying.
Unhappy with the panchayat’s verdict, the sisters and their mother approached police for justice.
The two husbands, their mother and some members of the panchayat have been booked under relevant IPC sections. However, the women fear that their case will be brushed under the carpet.
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