Friday, February 11 2005 13:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nalgonda: Accused of having physical relations with a boy, a 14-year-old Dalit girl was ordered by village elders to find a ring concealed in boiling oil to prove her chastity.

Nine elders of Dubbak village in Nalgonda District organised a "panchayat" two days ago (Feb 8, 2005) to punish the girl after she was accused of having relations with a boy of the same community, SP Harish Kumar Gupta said.

The girl was asked to locate a ring in boiling oil or touch a hot iron crowbar to prove that she did not have any physical relationship with the boy, he said.

The girl's parents protested the punishment and agreed to pay the penalty, Gupta said. On agreeing to pay the penalty, the girl was saved from the ordeal.

Nine villagers, including the boy and his parents, were arrested and sent to judicial custody, he said.