Bemetara (Chhattisgarh): In a bid to restore peace and communal harmony in Biranpur village of Chhattisgarh's Bemetara district, it has been decided that a youth marrying a girl from another community without her consent will be slapped with a penalty of Rs 3 lakhs, along with social boycott. Restrictions have been imposed on all kinds of movement in and around Biranpur village after 10 pm.
This was decided at a peace meeting organised by SP Kalyan Alisela and Collector Padum Singh Elma with the heads of society on Sunday. People of both communities sat together and promised each other to live in peace and harmony in future. After the district administration appealed everyone to cherish their good memories, villagers became emotional and hugged each other. They said that they would forget their past misunderstandings and start anew.
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At the meeting, people of one community said it has been seen that tension prevailed in society following inter-community marriages. "We have decided that if a youth from one community marries a girl from another community without her consent then a penalty amounting to Rs 3 lakhs will be imposed on the youth's family. Also, the family will be ostracised," said a representative of the community.
After the Peace Committee meeting, barricades in Biranpur village were removed enabling people to do their routine work without any restrictions. A police check post has been set up at the entrance of the village while entry of outsiders has been banned. Prayers will be held in the temple and the mosque as before. For the time being, police patrolling will continue in the village. Communal violence had erupted in Biranpur allegedly over a fight between school children last week. Following which, Section 144 was imposed in the area.
