Kolhapur: Sisters Forced To Take 'Virginity Tests', Panchayat Allows Husbands To Divorce Them Over Negative Report

Both sisters of the 'Kanjarbhat' community of Kolhapur were married in November 2020 to two men from the same community in Karnataka, four days after their marriage they were forced to take virginity tests.

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Kolhapur: Two sisters in Maharashtra's Kolhapur after their marriage were forced to take 'virginity tests' when one of the sister's test came out negative husbands of both the sisters divorced them. The community panchayat supports the husbands who now seeking divorce as the result of an order in this regard by the panchayat.

The sisters have filed a case against their former husbands.

In her letter to the police, a sister wrote that "We got married in Belgaum, Karnataka and four days after the wedding, we had to face harassment at the hands of our in-laws. We had to undergo 'virginity test' and on the fifth day were sent back to Kolhapur from Karnataka. Both sisters of the 'Kanjarbhat' community of Kolhapur were married in November 2020 to two men from the same community in Karnataka.

In-Laws refuse to listen

According to the victim, the family tried to convince the in-laws but the situation did not improve. She said, "Our family tried to persuade the in-laws but things did not improve. Later in the month of February the Community Panchayat announced our divorce in the presence of our in-laws".

Case Registered

The two sisters approached Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti for help and lodged a police complaint against the men. Police has registered a case against eight people including men and in-laws in this regard. The sisters also demand to register a rape against the two men.

According to Sujata Maytre, a member of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti said "These men did not like both girls before. They physically exploited the girls and hence a rape case is necessary. Virginity test is a disgusting act, there is a need to put an end such community panchayats and we will put our appeal before the government."