Bride, 3 others sent to jail for kidnap wedding bid in Bihar

Mangalore Today News Network

May 27, 2017: A bride and three members of her family were arrested from the madap (a makeshift canopy where marriage rituals are performed) for allegedly trying to solemnise a ‘pakadwa shadi’ in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, 71 km north of Patna, on Friday.

 

‘Pakadwa shaadi’ is a practice in parts of Bihar where men are abducted and made to marry.

Police said Julie, then dressed in bridal attire, and her family members attacked the police when they reached the wedding venue to rescue the groom at Gaighat, a block in Muzaffarpur district.

Deputy superintendent of police (Muzaffarpur east) Muttafique Ahmad said Julie, her brother, sister and another relative had been arrested on the charge of kidnapping and creating obstruction in government officials’ work.

The news of arrest sparked protest from locals, who attacked the Gaighat police to free Julie and her family members. “Their efforts were, however, foiled as personnel from three nearby police stations reached there and brought the situation under control, Ahmad said.

The arrested persons were later produced in the court of chief judicial magistrate, who sent them to Shahid Khudi Ram Bose Central Jail here under judicial custody, the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) added.

“The police had received a complaint that Abhinay Kumar of Maithi village in Gaighat police station area had been kidnapped by some relatives of Nand Kishore Singh, also of Gaighat, and was being forced to marry his daughter. A police team raided Singh’s house and recovered Kumar from there. However, the bride and some of her family members attacked the police team. So, we arrested them,” said Ahmad.

Stating that they were innocent and the marriage rituals were being performed with mutual consent, Julie and her sister have alleged police highhandedness.

Refuting the charge, Ahmad said no member of Kumar’s family was present at the venue when police reached there. “An arranged marriage is attended by family and friends of the bride and the groom. But, not a single person from the groom’s side was there. Even Kumar has asserted that he was kidnapped and was being forced to marry the girl,” the DSP said.

Pramod Kumar, a person known to the bride’s family, said the marriage of Julie and Kumar had earlier been fixed and the ring ceremony was to be held on Friday. “But, the matter ran into trouble due to dowry demand. Meanwhile, a close relative of Kumar coaxed him into visiting Gaighat, where the marriage ceremony hurriedly arranged,” he added.

Courtesy: Hindustantimes