Three youths beaten for opposing virginity tests of Kanjarbhat brides

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Pimpri – About 35-40 persons of have been booked by Pimpri police station for allegedly beating three youths who have been spreading awareness against the practice of determining the virginity of a bride on the wedding night in their Kanjarbhat community. The caste panchayat members were opposed to the youths for their stand against the practice.

Prashant Ankush Indrekar (25) of Yerwada, has lodged an FIR with Pimpri police station. Apart from Indrekar, Saurabh Machhle and Prashant Tamachikar were beaten up.

The incident took place around 11.30 pm on Sunday at Jhulelal complex in Bhatnagar locality of Pimpri, where wedding of a girl from the community was held and the youths had gone to attend the ceremony.

According to police, for the last three months the youths have started a WhatsApp group called ‘Stop the V Ritual’, to spread awareness against the practice of determining the virginity of a bride on the wedding night.

Around 8.30 pm on Sunday, they had gone to attend wedding ceremony at the complex. After the wedding ceremony, the community held a caste panchayat. Around 11.30 pm, a group of about 40 youths started beating Machhle and Tamachikar saying why they are opposing their traditional practice of virginity test of bride. They were also were also angry for our campaign on social media against the caste panchayat’s regressive practices. They kicked and hit them with belts. When I intervened, I was thrashed too”, Indrekar stated in his complaint.

Police have registered the case for offences under Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to voluntarily causing hurt, unlawful assembly and rioting.