The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Nalgonda News : Illegal court imposes fine of Rs. 40,000 on minor girl

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 11, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Nalgonda

Illegal court imposes fine of Rs. 40,000 on minor girl

By Our Staff Reporter

NALGONDA, FEB. 10. A kangaroo court in Nalgonda district imposed a fine of Rs.40,000 on a minor girl for her failure to take a test to prove that she was "pure."

According to the villagers of Dubbaka village in Ramannapet mandal, a 12-year-old girl hailing from a gypsy family was forced to undergo two tests following the allegation of her distant relative, a 14-year-old boy, that he had a relationship with her. Refuting the allegation, the girl, however, expressed her willingness to take the odious tests.

The heads of the particular caste asked the girl to take out a ring from boiling oil or hold a fiery iron rod to prove her innocence. "If she is really innocent, she will not sustain any injury. If you don't want to take the tests, you must pay Rs.40,000,'' one of the village heads reportedly told her father at the kangaroo court.

Accordingly, the villagers arranged a furnace to heat the iron road and the girl was forced to take a sacrificial bath, a pre-condition for such a trial. In an attempt to save his daughter from this unscientific test, however, her father accepted to pay Rs.40,000, as ordered by the elders.

Speaking to The Hindu on Thursday, the Ramannapet Circle Inspector, Rajaram, said the incident reportedly took place on February 5. "We have booked cases against nine persons for forcing the girl to take the test,'' he said.

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