Family members of an 18-year-old girl in Cuttack district reportedly declared her dead and performed her post-death rituals after she eloped with her lover recently.

Payal Mahapatra, daughter of Bishwajit Mahapatra, of Umar village under the Bhadreshwar police limits, left home with her lover on November 1 and the duo later tied the knot.

According to villagers, Payal had earlier eloped with her lover, who happens to be her tuition teacher, some years ago. Her family had lodged a missing complaint in this regard with police. Police rescued her and arrested her lover as she was a minor at the time of her elopement.

However, Payal once again eloped with her lover a few days after she turned 18. She later informed her parents through a video message that she had tied the knot with her lover.

Opposing her marriage, Payal’s family declared her as dead and performed her post-death rituals in the presence of priests and relatives. They also organised a feast for Brahmins and community members as part of the rituals, sources added.

“I brought up my daughter with all care till she turned 18. But she eloped with a person from a lower caste and married him without our consent. With a heavy heart, we declared her dead and performed her post-death rituals,” said Payal’s father Bishwajit Mahapatra.

However, Payal’s in-laws have supported her decision. “She is above 18 now. She has every right to take decision regarding her life partner. My son Akash has accepted her as his wife and we all are happy with his decision,” said Payal’s father-in-law Kashinath Behera.