NAMAKKAL: Bowing to the diktat of the village elders, who ostracised their minor daughter for ‘having sexual relations’ with a man from another community, her parents reportedly performed last rites to her, although she was alive, at S Vazhavanthi village near here.The whereabouts of the girl and the reason for this shocking action were still not clear as police officials were being prevented by the residents from entering the village. According to sources, the 13-year-old girl, a Class VIII student of a school near her house, was involved in a relationship with a 22-year-old man from the same area in S Vazhavanthi. Her parents reportedly objected to their relationship as both came from different communities.“Meanwhile, on the night of April 21, the Paramathi police received a call stating that five persons had molested a girl at Melapatti in S Vazhavanthi. When a team, led by an SI, tried to hold inquiries into the matter, angry villagers, including the girl’s parents and relatives, gheraoed the cops, picked up a wordy duel and forced them out of the village,” sources told Express.Later, the policemen, led by Paramathi inspector Mohanraj, again went to the village, only to be driven away by the villagers a second time. Subsequent efforts by police and revenue department officials to conduct an inquiry into the incident also proved futile. Villagers also threatened the officials with dire consequences if they tried to enter the village.However, elders in the village allegedly ostracised the girl for having ‘illegal sexual relation’ with a person belonging to another community, citing the customs followed by their community, sources claimed. It was still not clear whether the girl was molested by a group, including her lover, or if she had intercourse with him alone, sources said. Reportedly bowing to the diktat of the elders, the girl’s parents even performed her last rites. As an official pointed out, “Though the police, revenue and social welfare department officials made efforts, the girl could not be traced. We got information that she has been confined to the house of one of their relatives.” Members of the Child Welfare Committee were holding further inquiries into the incident, he added.When asked about the incident, district probation officer M Selvam told Express, “After getting the information, we started the inquiry. Went to the Paramathi police station and gathered information on what had happened. We are trying to trace the whereabouts of the girl and proceed further in the case.”
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