village bans women from using mobiles

A village panchayat (administrative unit) in Bihar has prohibited women from using mobile phones with heavy fines if they violate the diktat, an official said on Monday.

The self-styled social reformers of Sunderbadi village panchayat in Kochadham block of Kishanganj district on Sunday issued the orders banning women from using mobiles, a district official said.

“The villagers have issued an order to impose a fine of Rs10,000 (Dh673) if a girl is found using a mobile phone, while a married woman will have to pay a fine of Rs2,000 if found talking on a mobile outside her house,” the official said.

A senior police official at the police headquarters here said it was the first such diktat issued by a village panchayat in Bihar. “There is no precedent to such an order issued by a Bihar village panchayat