Nimapara, Nov 29: A family was reportedly ostracised and denied common facilities and social links for opposing low-quality road work in their village in Puri district.
The inhuman act occurred in Sujanagar village of Kuanpada village under the Gop police station limits in the district.
According to the information, a road in Sujanagar village was constructed during the BJD government. It didn't last long due to inferior quality work. A villager, Sarat Pradhan, opposed the low-quality work. For this, he and seven others of his family were ostracised.
The village committee met and decided to refrain the family from availing common facilities like tube-well water and temple visits.
A group of villagers beat Ghant and asked co-villagers to gather in the temple. They forced villagers to swear in the name of god not to keep any relation with the Sarat Pradhan family.
Earlier, Sarat was attacked by some villagers. In fear, he went to a distant place, leaving behind his mother and sister in their house. His sister Sasmita used to give tuition to about 30 students then. The group also asked the parents not to send their wards to Sasmita for tuition.
The matter came to light after Sarat along with her mother and sister filed a police complaint at the Gop police station.