Rayagada, July 11: In a shocking incident, a young tribal couple was publicly humiliated and expelled from their community in a village in Odisha’s Rayagada district for allegedly marrying within the same clan- a union considered taboo under local customs, locals said on Friday.

The video of the incident went viral on social media.

As per reports, the couple, identified as Lak Saraka and Kodia Saraka of Kanjamajodi village under Kalyansingpur block, reportedly shared a familial bond as paternal aunt and nephew.

According to tribal tradition, such relationships are reportedly viewed as equivalent to sibling ties, making marriage between them strictly prohibited. When villagers discovered their romantic involvement, a kangaroo court was convened, and the elders imposed a traditional punishment.

The viral video circulating on social media shows the couple being forced to carry a wooden yoke on their shoulders and plough a field—symbolically replacing oxen. This act was carried out after they were made to offer prayers to the village deity. Despite their visible distress and unwillingness, the villagers compelled them to plough the muddy paddy field, citing ancestral customs.

Following the punishment, the couple was allegedly asked to leave the village. Their current whereabouts remain unknown, and no official response has been issued by local authorities. The incident has sparked widespread outrage online, with many calling for legal action and a reevaluation of such practices that infringe on individual rights.

This case highlights the tension between preserving tribal traditions and upholding human dignity and constitutional rights. It also raises questions about the role of local governance and law enforcement in protecting vulnerable individuals from cultural extremism.

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