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Villagers claim that under a dozen couples married without family consent in the last six months. (Source: Pexels/ Representational)
A village panchayat in Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh has announced a social boycott of families where their members enter into love marriages, after a series of elopements and inter-caste marriages over the past six months triggered anger among villagers.
The decision was taken at a meeting held three days ago in Panchewa village of Piploda tehsil, and came into the public domain after multiple videos of the gathering surfaced on social media.
Villagers claim that under a dozen couples married without family consent in the last six months. According to residents, tensions rose further after some of the women allegedly refused to identify their parents at police stations and before magistrates. Following this, a meeting of village elders, panchayat members and residents was convened, where a series of social and economic restrictions were announced against families of those who married after eloping.
Several videos of the meeting show a villager holding a register and reading out what he describes as a unanimous decision of the village. In the footage, he’s heard saying that the decision “has been taken by all the residents of Panchewa village. Any boy or girl who elopes and gets married will face restrictions, and so will their family”. He then lists the measures, stating that “no milk or goods will be supplied to such families, no one will invite them to social or family functions, and no work will be given to them in the village.”
He also announces that “priests, barbers and other service providers will not go to their houses”, and adds that “anyone who helps the couple, shelters them, acts as a witness to the marriage or supports them in any way will also be socially boycotted”.
After the videos went viral, officials from the local administration visited Panchewa village and interacted with residents in the presence of the sarpanch. Additional District Magistrate Shalini Shrivastava has also directed the Jaora Sub-Divisional Magistrate to look into the issue.
Authorities have said they are looking into the video and the circumstances under which the decisions were taken. Ratlam Additional Superintendent of Police Vivek Kumar told The Indian Express: “The video issued by the villagers has come to our notice. Instructions have been given to the concerned police officers to examine the matter and take action against those responsible when we get a complaint. The local administration has been dispatched to the village to speak to the residents”.
Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More
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