Defeated village panchayat candidate asks villagers to dip hand in boiling oil

By our correspondent, Gandhinagar, 5 February 2013

As per the primary details available at this time, around 17-18 villagers of Deriya village in Bayad belt of Sabarkantha district received burn injuries after a defeated candidate in village panchayat poll asked them to undergo a test by dipping their fingers in boiling oil. In a throwback to the middle ages, the defeated candidate wanted to testify whether these villagers voted for him or for his rival candidate who won the poll. Those injured are given primary treatment. Though there’s no formal complaint filed in this case as of now, the local police is investigating the matter, and meeting the victims.