Besides slapping several restrictions on women, a village Panchayat in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh has banned love marriages, use of mobile phones by girls when out on roads and women less than 40 years old from going out shopping, the reason they gave is that it increases crimes. It has ordered girls to cover their heads while stepping out of their houses. The Panchayat justified its orders by saying that it is for the safety of girls themselves.
The said district is at a distance of around 40 km from New Delhi. It must be noted that 70 per cent villagers are Muslims while 30 per cent are Hindus, most of them Jats.
The Panchayat met on Wednesday to ensure strict enforcement of its decisions which were taken by it in February this year. The Panchayat resolved that those who defy the order would be first ostracised and then expelled from the village. Though the media has termed it as ‘Taliban Panchayat’, most villagers welcomed the orders.
The Panchayat also ruled that taking or giving dowry would be a punishable offence. Besides, it barred boys from using headphones/ earphones on roads and in bylanes.