Rayagada: At least four tribals sustained injuries following a group clash between people from four villages in the district over ‘Jhika Bibaha,’ a traditional wedding practice that involves forcibly capturing a bride for marriage.
The injured men, hailing from Parsali panchayat under Kalyansinghpur block in Niyamgiri have been admitted to the Kalyansinghpur Community Health Centre.
Their condition is stated to be normal.
According to sources, a youth identified as Bama Sikaka of Lamba wanted to marry a girl from Sanadenganeli village. With the help of his villagers, he abducted the girl and brought her home.
This traditional practice of marriage is reportedly acceptable among the primitive Dongaria tribal groups.
However, the girl, returned home as she was reportedly in love with another youth.
A meeting had been called by the tribals from four villages under Parsali panchayat to solve the issue. While locals from Lamba and Guma villages backed Bama, the tribals of Sanadenganeli and Nishikhal villages supported the girl.
The altercation took an ugly turn after the villagers started attacking each other.
Local outfit Niyamgiri Surakhsha Mancha president Lada Sikaka tried to intervene and solve the matter amicably, but in vain.
No case has been registered in this connection so far, sources said.