Police Broker Peace in Ganjam Inter-Caste Marriage Dispute
A contentious social boycott case involving the family of an additional tehsildar in Ganjam district has been peacefully resolved following police mediation on Saturday. The dispute emerged after community members allegedly ostracized the family because of the government official's decision to marry outside his caste.
The Complaint and Alleged Social Boycott
The controversy came to light when Bijay Behera, father of additional tehsildar Saudagar Behera from Aska, filed a formal police complaint on Thursday. The senior Behera, who resides in Munishpenth near Chhatrapur, alleged that community members had systematically excluded and humiliated his family following his son's inter-caste marriage.
The situation reached a breaking point when community members reportedly prevented Bijay Behera from participating in a wedding reception feast within the village and explicitly asked him to leave the gathering. "Feeling humiliated, he lodged an FIR," according to the official statement.
Based on the detailed complaint filed by Behera, Chhatrapur police registered a formal case against nine community members, though the accused individuals consistently denied the allegations against them.
Peaceful Resolution Through Dialogue
The breakthrough occurred on Saturday afternoon when community leaders and the complainant came together at the Chhatrapur police station for mediated discussions. Inspector Sabyasachi Malla, who oversaw the reconciliation process, confirmed the positive outcome.
"The matter has been solved amicably after community members sat together on Saturday afternoon and assured to live peacefully and maintain brotherhood in the village," stated Malla, the inspector in-charge of Chhatrapur police station.
As part of the resolution process, both parties provided written undertakings committing to peaceful coexistence. Community head Ramesh Behera publicly declared, "We assured to live together and the family will not be ostracised by the community."
Withdrawal of Complaint and Restored Harmony
Expressing satisfaction with the resolution, complainant Bijay Behera has decided not to pursue the legal case further. "As the matter was solved, I don't want to continue the case further," he stated, while formally requesting police to withdraw his initial complaint.
The successful mediation highlights how timely police intervention can help resolve sensitive social conflicts while preserving community relationships. The written assurances from community leaders provide a formal framework ensuring that the additional tehsildar's family will face no further discrimination or social exclusion due to the inter-caste marriage.
