KATHMANDU, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Society for Inter-caste Marriage Protection Nepal (SIMPN) has drawn its serious concern over Rs. 60,000 (around 850 dollars) fine slapped on the family of Amit BK of Dailekh, some 360 km west of nepali capital Kathmandu, for marrying an "upper caste" girl.

    According to Thursday's local newspaper The Himalayan Times, Amit and Sabita Shahi had tied their knot on Sept. 1 at their will but Sabita's maternal home not only opposed the inter-caste wedlock but also fined Amit, thrashed him and his brother, before snatching the girl from him.

    The family, later, wedded their daughter to another person.

    "We have taken the incident as a mockery of democracy. It goes against untouchability-free society," SIMPN said in a press statement issued Wednesday.

    "No amount of condemnation can compensate the wounds that inflicted on Amit," the statement said, adding, "The incident paints a grim picture of Nepali society, where discrimination still thrives despite abolishing deep-rooted caste system in the country."

    The government has recently announced a bounty of Rs 50,000 for an inter-caste marriage and encouraged widows to remarry. To encourage the practice, a package program was announced in the annual budget for the fiscal year.

    The SIMPN has demanded that the government take action against the guilty, return the cash to the victim and provide security to the family.

    "We appeal to human rights activists and all those concerned to ensure that justice is done on the victims," SIMPN said.