Gambler pawns sister-in-law

A gambler pawned his sister-in-law after losing a game of cards and married her to his friend who won the bet, the police said on Tuesday.

Bhagirathi Moharana, a carpenter, at Jadupur under Khandagiri police station made the bet that he would hand over his sister-in-law to anyone who beats him in a game of cards on September 18, they said.

Moharana, who was considered a master player, made the announcement in the presence of villagers who had gathered to witness the game.

"I lost to Kailash and therefore handed over my sister-in-law Binodini to him," Moharana said.

The marriage was held on September 19 with the help of AMFOI, an NGO which promotes inter-caste and 'dowryless' marriages in the state.

The families of the couple, besides large number of villagers, attended the function, the NGO's Secretary B Ramachandran said.

Binodini said she would have refused the marriage had she known about the bet between her brother-in-law and Kailash. "I did not know about the incident because the marriage was performed in a hurry."

When contacted, chairperson of the state Commission for Women Namita Panda condemned the incident and said "I will probe it."

"We condemn the manner in which a girl was forced to marry a man who won her in a game," AIDWA's state secretary Tapasi Praharaj said.

Khandagiri police station in-charge officer S B Satpathy said though police were aware of the incident, it was awaiting a formal complaint to begin investigation.