Siraha, July 21:

A family, which was evicted from a village after a member of the family married a girl from a so called upper caste, has been moving from pillar to post for the last two-and-a-half months in Sarlahi seeking justice.

Relatives of Hemlata Chaudhary expelled Bhausai Mandal and Dayabati Mandal, parents of Satya Narayan Mandal, along with their family members from Sisabani-7, Barahawa Tole, after Satya married Hemlata on April 29.

The bride’s relatives first slapped a fine of Rs 80,000 on Mandal’s parents as punishment. With Mandal couple failing to pay the fine, they were handed over an expulsion notice from the village.

Satya’s elder brother Ram Kumar said that Hemlata’s father Sabur Lal Chaudhary and some people from the Chaudhary community vandalised their house and shop before expelling them from the village.

The locals also backed the bride’s family’s decision and vandalised their house, Ram said. He said his family had been going from one village to another for justice.

Police, local administration and political leaders also failed to get us justice, he said.

According to Satya’ kin Bhausai Mandal, the Panchayat at the call of Chaudhary community had slapped the fine. Due to our inability to pay the fine, the Chaudhary community expelled us from the village, he said.

At a programme held in Siraha today, Bhausai said his family was subjected to atrocities due to the inter-caste marriage. He called on all to make conducive environment for their return to the village.

Bhausai also alleged that the Chaudhary community thrashed his daughters-in-law Ram Bilal and Sirawati Mandal for protesting the atrocity.

Lovebirds jump into Trishuli:

NARAYANGARH: A couple of Tanahun’s Devighat VDC have been missing after they jumped into Trishuli River on Tuesday, after realising that the society would not accept their relationship.

Laxmi Shrestha, 30, and Santa Bahadur Shrestha, 19, of Kalimati in Devghat-4 of Chitwan dived into the river at around 8:30 am. Santa is learnt to be a relative of Laxmi and both of them had eloped. Laxmi and Santa fell in love after

her husband went abroad for work.

Villagers said their relationship was in trouble after her husband Resham Lal Shrestha returned some three weeks ago. Following the incident, police have begun a search for the duo. — HNS

Dalit family returns home:

GAIGHAT: Police on Sunday brought back a Dalit family, which was evicted by relatives of the bride’s relatives after an inter-caste marriage seven days ago, to its village. The family of Sujan BK of Jante VDC-3 was evicted after he married Rupa Rai of the same village. His family had moved to district headquarters Gaighat after the bride’s uncle Bidhya Rai slapped a fine of Rs 72,000 on the family and threatened them with dire consequence. — HNS