MP: Panchayat boycotts family for not holding 'shradh' feast

Police have launched an investigation into a complaint filed by a farmer claiming that his family was ostracised by the community panchayat in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district for not organizing a ritualistic feast post the death of his son in March this year due to the lockdown, an official said on Tuesday.

The complainant stated that his normal life got derailed due to the boycott ordered after the March 9 death of his son due to drowning, said Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), Khajuraho, Manmohan Singh Baghel.

He said the farmer, a resident of Khajwa village, could not perform the 'shradh' ritual organised on the 13th day of death due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

"The farmer claimed that he and his family have been facing hardships since the last two months as they are not allowed to take water from the village well," Baghel said, adding that investigation is underway.

Rjngar block CEO Pratipal Singh Bagri, however, denied that the farmer and his family were prevented from fetching water from the well.

"A report was summoned form the village panchayat secretary in which he has clarified that there was no restriction on the family on fetching water from the well," Bagri said.