Phidim, February 11:

Villagers of Nagin-2 in Panchthar district badly beat up a would-be bridegroom Birman Siwa and his father Chandraman Siwa of Imbung-1 last night for hiding the groom’s mother’s gotra.

Locals said that the groom Birman tried to pass off as a person from a gotra other than the bride’s. They added that by virtue of his mother’s gotra which was the same as the bride, the bride Kamala Siwa happened to be his kin and aunt in relation.

They said that the bride’s side had conveyed as much to the groom and his father, but the duo had the cheek to turn up despite all at the head of a wedding party and a traditional band. A member of the groom’s wedding party KB Sigaure said that Birman and his father were tied to a pole in the house and thrashed.

The bride’s father Nara Bahadur Siwa said that they had agreed on January 4 that the marriage would be held on February 10. But after learning that Birman’s mother was from the same gotra as the bride’s, they cancelled the invite list and informed the invitees of it. They also conveyed to the groom’s side that the marriage was off.

Birman and his father had told the bride’s side that Birman’s mother’s family bore the surname Nepali. But the cat came out of the bag that Birman’s mother’s folk were Pariyars of Nagin-2. Going by that, Kamala turned out to be Birman’s aunt.

Members of the groom-led wedding party said that Birman was also fined Rs 100 and made to beg the bride’s forgiveness. They added that were kept locked up in a room while the groom and his father were being thrashed.

Later, the groom’s side said it informed the district-based Joint Social Prestige and Mukti Foundation about the incident. Foundation chairperson Laxmi Sunar said they would investigate.