Betul (Madhya Pradesh):
As many as 350 women were allegedly put through virginity and pregnancy tests during a mass marriage programme organised by the Madhya Pradesh government at Harad village in the tribal-dominated district of Betul on Friday.
The district administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. 90 of those women who were subjected to the tests are tribals.
"I have given the orders to probe the complaints on alleged virginity and pregnancy tests conducted on would-be-brides during yesterday's mass marriage function under the 'Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana' at Harad village," Rajesh Prasad Mishra, Betul district collector, said.
Assistant Collector Neha Marvaya will conduct the inquiry and submit her report within seven days, he added.
Sources said the tests were apparently ordered by government officials.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in state Assembly, Ajay Singh, said that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan should apologise to tribals and women over the incident and also demanded strict against the erring officials.
Samajwadi Jan Parishad leader Anurag Modi said the district collector couldn't wash his hands off the incident by just ordering a probe, since it was highly improbable that the tests were conducted without his permission.