UP Khap Panchayat rubbishes reports of ordering rape of Dalit sisters

After two Dalit sisters from UP's Baghpat district claimed that the Khap Panchayat ordered them to be raped and paraded naked in the district, the Jat leaders of the village have come forward and denied the allegations.

Last week, there were reports that Baghpat's Khap Panchayat had issued a diktat that two Dalit sisters be raped and paraded naked as their brother eloped with a married Jat woman. The Dalit girl had approached the Supreme Court seeking protection for herself and her family. 

According to Hindustan Times, the Jat leaders have said that the Khap Panchayat never discussed the issue and it is an attempt to malign the khaps. A Khap leader, speaking to the daily, said that the Dalit family in question should apologise for their actions. 

According to reports, the Dalit woman's brother and a Jat woman were in love for three years. But the woman was forcibly married to another Jat man after their love affair was discovered. A month after the marriage, the woman eloped with the Dalit man. The coupe returned to their village after constant pressure from the girl's family. As soon as they returned, the woman who is reportedly pregnant, was taken back home while the Dalit man was arrested on narcotics charges. 

After the Jat community allegedly ransacked the Dalit family's house, they moved to Delhi.  After the sister moved Supreme Court, the apex court issued a notice to UP police and demanded a reply to the petitioner's plea. 

Also read: SC issues notice to UP police after Khap Panchayat orders Dalit women to be raped