Couple Punished in Odisha for Taboo Relationship: Tied to Yoke and Forced to Plough
Shocking Punishment in Odisha Village
A man and a woman in Rayagada district, Odisha, faced a severe punishment when villagers tied them to a yoke and compelled them to plough a field, as they were accused of engaging in a relationship deemed unacceptable by Adivasi customs.
This incident took place in Kangaramjodi village within the Kalyansinghpur block on a Wednesday, and footage of the event circulated widely on social media platforms by Friday.
#VIDEO | Villagers Object To Marriage, Couple Tied To Yoke Like Oxen, Made To Plough Field pic.twitter.com/KjFr4Q3cKq
— Media Channel (@mediachannel) July 11, 2025
The couple, a 32-year-old man and his father's cousin sister, were identified by locals who claimed that their relationship was taboo due to Adivasi customs prohibiting marriage within the same clan, as reported by a local news outlet.
Rumors about their relationship had circulated prior to the incident, and villagers allegedly caught them in a compromising situation.
According to Biswanath Kurshika, a village elder, the community decided on the 'plough punishment' after much discussion, stating, “If we had forgiven them for such an offense, our deity would have cursed the village.”
After being tied to the yoke and forced to work the land, the couple underwent 'purification rituals' at a shrine to cleanse their 'sins', as described by the villagers. Following this, they were reportedly beaten and expelled from the village.
Before their expulsion, the couple received a small sum of Rs 1,000.
In response to the viral video, police officials visited the village on Friday to investigate the situation and engage with the local community. The Rayagada district administration announced plans to conduct an inquiry into the incident.
