12 families 'ostracised' in Jharkhand village, probe ordered

A probe has been ordered after 12 families of a village in West Singhbhum district were allegedly ostracised by the Gram Sabha, police said today.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Abu Bakar Siddique today said the probe was launched after a victim woman lodged a written complaint in this regard with Chakradharpur police on Saturday.
According to the complaint, the 12 families of Raghoi village under Sonua block were ostracised for attending the 'Shradh' of one Bimo Murmu's father, who had been ostracised earlier.
The probe will be carried out by district planning officer J B Tirkey and the child development program officer, Sonua, Siddique told newsmen.

Presided over by the Sonaram Hansdah, the 'Munda' (village head) of Raghoi, a gram sabha was convened on April 1 and decided to ostracise the 12 families with immediate effect, the complainant said.
The ostracised families have been barred from using community well and the pond, and the villagers including shopkeepers have been directed to shun all sorts of dealings with them, she said in her complain.
She also alleged that the Gram Sabha has also threatened them to leave the village.