A marriage between next door neighbours has triggered a storm in Dhariwal Kaler village near Ajnala, leading the gram panchayat to pass a controversial resolution banning marriages within the village and threatening social ostracism.Villagers say the latest wedding is not an isolated case. At least six such marriages have taken place in recent years, involving boys and girls from the same village. It is also happening in other villages too, they claim.“In earlier such cases in our village, the families of the girls came to terms after some time. Some couples are even living here now,” says Baba Gurlal Singh, granthi of the local gurdwara. However, this time, the girl’s family approached the community for help, he adds.A few days ago, the panchayat unanimously announced a social boycott of marriages conducted within the village. Under the resolution, any man from the village who marries a woman from the same village will face social ostracism. Such couples will be barred from living in the village, and the boycott will also extend to their families if they help them.The residents also blame drugs as the root cause for this cultural ‘degeneration’. An elderly resident allege that the boys involved in these marriages are linked to drug peddling. “Their money and flashy lifestyle have influenced the girls and, in some cases, their families too,” he claims, adding that at least 15 youths from the village have died due to drug abuse.Village elders say marriages within the same village have traditionally been avoided, as residents consider themselves part of an extended family. The resolution, they argue, is meant to prevent tensions that have earlier disturbed village life.However, social activists and legal experts warn that marriage is a personal right and social boycotts amount to coercion. Defending the decision, sarpanch Rajpal Singh says, “We are not against love marriages. We have no objection if a boy or girl marries outside the village. We are not challenging the law, but customs have to be respected.”