KOLKATA: A teenager was hacked to death on Thursday before a ‘khap’ panchayat in Bankura district of West Bengal for being in love with his neighbour’s daughter.
Sheikh Momim Ali, a student of Class XI in Raipur village of the district, was called before a ‘khap’ panchayat which wanted to punish him and his family as he was in love with his neighbour’s daughter. A garland of sandals was also made. When the boy appeared before the meeting of village elders, the girl’s father, uncles and brothers first started beating him.
Then one of them hacked him with a dagger. He was rushed by other villagers to a nearby health centre, where he was declared brought dead.
However, none was arrested though the village council chief Sandhyamoni Soren admitted about the meeting and killing of the boy.
Sociologist Bolan Ganguly felt, “The idea of khap panchayat is alien to Bengal, but it’s a new dangerous trend being noticed during the last few years.
Bankura Superintendent of Police Nilkanta Sudhir Kumar said an FIR was filed against 11 persons but no arrest was made yet.