UP village panchayat's absurd diktat is talk of town

Lucknow, Jul 13: A village panchayat in Bagpat district of Uttar Pradesh has banned love marriage, barred women below 40 years of age from going out for shopping and girls from using mobile phones on the streets.

The panchayat at Asara village in Ramala area has issued the diktats restraining women below 40 from going to markets and using mobile in the village or outside, official sources said today.

The panchayat also ruled that when women leave their homes, their heads must be covered.

The diktats were issued during a meeting of the panchayat held yesterday.

The panchayat also banned love marriages and said those doing so would not be allowed to live in the village, the sources said.

Superintendent of Police Baghpat VK Shekhar said they have come to know about such diktats by the panchayat and ordered an inquiry by the district intelligence unit into the matter.

He said no arrest has been made in connection with the panchayat's directives and any action would be taken after getting the report of the intelligence unit.

PTI