Chhota Udepur DDO suspends Devalia Sarpanch who humiliated teenaged lovers

The teenaged tribal couple from Devalia, who were flogged in public, smeared with cow dung, garlanded with thorns and the girl made to do the murga squat with the the boy sitting on her shoulders brought to light the atrocity of a Khap panchayat in Devalia that punished the lovers for going against the social norm of not marrying within the village.
​
On Sunday, while inaugurating the annual Krishi Mahotsav fair for South Gujarat in Rajpipla in Narmada, Chief Minister Anandi ​Patel​ had stated that the state government had taken note of the social evil prevailing in the tribal belt​ and would ensure the “strictest” punishment to the members of the panchayat​​.

Sources at Pardhi’s office said the order of suspending the Sarpanch had been issued after “receiving instructions from Gandhinagar”.

According to the police, which is still on the look-out, Soniasinh Rathwa, the Sarpanch is also a notorious bootlegger in the area.