Woman abducted over ₹2 lakh Beja dispute:25–30 men drag her from field; police launch investigation

A video showing a young woman being allegedly abducted from a field in broad daylight has surfaced from Rajpur Tehsil in Barwani district. The incident, said to have taken place on the afternoon of July 7, is under police investigation. According to allegations, the woman’s family accepted nearly ₹2 lakh under the tribal custom known as Beja but later refused to send her to the man she was engaged to. Following this, around 25 to 30 men reportedly arrived in the village, dragged the woman from the field, forced her onto a motorcycle, and took her away. Police have launched an investigation after the video went viral. Tribal leader demands action within 24 hours Rahul Solanki, district president of the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Development Council and a Janpad member representative, said that if the incident shown in the video is genuine, it raises serious concerns over law and order and women’s safety. He urged the police to complete the investigation within 24 hours and make the findings public. No formal complaint filed yet Rajpur police station in-charge Madhav Singh Thakur said no formal complaint has been received so far. However, a police team has been sent to the village to investigate the incident. Engagement, ₹2 lakh payment and alleged forced abduction According to local information, the woman was engaged to Hukum Rawat, a resident of Nihali village. Under the Beja custom, Hukum’s family had reportedly paid around ₹2 lakh to the woman’s family. However, the bride’s family allegedly did not send her to his house. Following this, Hukum allegedly reached Indrapur village with 25 to 30 men and forcibly took the woman away from a field on a motorcycle. In the viral video, two people can also be heard discussing that the woman’s Beja had already taken place, but despite accepting the money, her family was refusing to send her, prompting the alleged forcible abduction. Villagers claim woman refused relationship after learning man was married Villagers claimed that Hukum and the woman had stayed together for three days after their engagement. Later, the woman allegedly discovered that Hukum was already married and returned to her village. They said Hukum tried twice to take her back, but she refused each time. The woman later went to stay with her aunt in Jalgaon village. According to villagers, Hukum then arrived with 25 to 30 men and forcibly brought her back, allegedly telling her, “I have paid the Beja. You belong to me now.” What is the Beja tradition? The Beja tradition is a customary practice followed in parts of the Nimar region among some tribal communities. Under this tradition, a man and woman elope with mutual consent and later seek community recognition for their marriage. Once the woman voluntarily reaches the man’s house, community elders validate the union. The families then settle the matter through discussions and customary compensation or penalties. Authorities are investigating whether the tradition was misused in this case to justify the alleged abduction.