Furious that two of their panchayat members had been arrested, villagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat region on Friday beat up two policemen investigating the panchayat’s “Taliban” diktat banning women from using cell phones, going to the market or walking unescorted. The policemen, who had arrested two panchayat members, had gone to Asaara village in Baghpat, about 450 km from here, after senior officials took cognisance of the diktat and dispatched a team to probe the matter. The policemen were brutally attacked and their motorcycle set on fire, said an official, adding that the villagers fled after freeing the arrested panchayat members.
These diktats were issued during a meeting of the panchayat held on Wednesday. The village, incidentally, has a dominant Muslim population.
Tension prevailed in the village on Friday as camera crews and reporters lined up to talk to residents and panchayat members. The elders issued instructions to women to remain indoors and the men were also asked not to talk to any mediaperson.
The village population, meanwhile, seems to be highly supportive of the Taliban-like diktat. “We completely accept the decision because single girls moving around create a lot of problems,” said Musharraf, a local resident.
Mohman Khan, a member of the panchayat that issued the diktat, said, “Those who are opting for love marriage are welcome to move out of the village before they take the step. The panchayat will make sure that couple who opt for court marriages are completely isolated in the village.”
Superintendent of police, Baghpat, Mr V.K. Shekhar told reporters that he had learnt of the panchayat diktat and had ordered an inquiry by the district intelligence unit into the matter.