National Human Rights Commission: On 25-06-2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, took suo motu cognizance of a media report highlighting an incident where the family of a woman from a Scheduled Tribe community was subjected to a social boycott by villagers in Rayagada district, Odisha. This social boycott reportedly occurred after her marriage to a man belonging to the Scheduled Caste.
The media report stated that the villagers demanded a purification ritual, threatening an indefinite boycott if the family refused. As per the media report, carried on 21-06-2025, the family succumbed to this diktat of the villagers, and the heads of 40 members of the woman’s family were reportedly tonsured.
The Commission observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of the human rights of the victims. Consequently, it issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.
