Divya Choudhary, a 22 yr old charted accountant was engaged with Jeevraj when she was only 3 years old. She consumed poisonous substance in front of police and family members in Jodhpur police station to escape the diktat of the local panchayat that ruled that she marry the person betrothed to her when she was of 3 years.
The girl had apparently refused to acknowledge her engagement. She kept on with her studies and become charted accountant. But her would-be-in-laws invoked the panchayat which slapped a fine of Rs. 16 lakhs on her family for not honouring the engagement.
The family of Divya alleged that the police were indifferent and negligence in the matter, as the victim reportedly approached the police thrice to get the FIR registered against her in-laws. The FIR was finally registered on 25 October, but no action was taken. The victim has given complaint against 5 members including Sarpanch and father of the present Jila Pramukh of Jodhpur.
The complaint against the panchayat and the boy’s family further irked the panchayat which demanded more Rs. 20 Lakh penalty, a public apology and withdrawal of the police case to avoid boycott from the community. The situation turned intolerable for Divya and on Sunday she consumed poisonous substance in the police station.
Narayan Singh, the IO, said that he has not received the file of the case and would be able to comment only after studying the file. The concerned SHO and the ACP refused to comment on the issue.