Rayagada, June 25: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a disturbing incident in Odisha’s Rayagada district, where a tribal woman’s family was allegedly subjected to a social boycott after she married a man from a Scheduled Caste.

According to reports, villagers demanded a “purification ritual” for the family to be accepted back into the community. The family was reportedly threatened with indefinite ostracism if they refused.

Succumbing to the pressure, 40 members of the woman’s extended family were forced to undergo tonsure as part of the ritual.

The NHRC has termed the incident a potential violation of human rights and has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Odisha, seeking a detailed report within two weeks.

The incident, which took place in Baiganaguda village under Kashipur block, has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about caste-based discrimination and coercive social practices in tribal regions.

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