Bride on strike after man’s family refuse to accept her

Mangalore Today News Network

Patna, February 17, 2015: Priti Kumari was dressed in all her finery while the women sang and danced to traditional wedding songs. And the ’baraat’ slowly made its way to Makdumpur village in Bihar’s Begusarai district on Saturday.

 

But there was no groom leading this wedding party. The frail Class 12 student herself led the assembly of women to her husband’s house.

A resident of Bharoul village under Bachhwara police station in Begusarai, Priti got married to Dhiraj Thakur, a teacher in a government school, in April last year. But the marriage was far from traditional.


Dhiraj’s family had refused to accept Priti as they claimed that he had been forcibly married to her by her family members. They said since Dhiraj had been abducted and married to her, she was unacceptable to them.

Unable to take it anymore (she had waited for a word from her husband and his family for several months), the 19-year-old decided to force her entry into her husband’s house at Makdumpur village, not far from her ancestral place.

Her in-laws and her husband were, however, in no mood to let her in. So Priti decided to sit on an indefinite strike outside her husband’s house until she was accepted by them.

"I will die but will not go back to my parents’ home," she announced before a large gathering of villagers that had assembled to see the "unique" baraat.

The local police station, meanwhile, deployed some policemen in the village to monitor the situation in view of the mounting tension in the area. The police and local social activists also tried to persuade the husband’s family by saying that the girl had no role in the entire episode (abduction and forced marriage) but they remained adamant.

According to villagers, the groom’s father had earlier lodged a complaint against Priti’s father and others for forcing his son into marriage without his consent.

Priti’s family members, however, have alleged that Dhiraj’s father had been demanding Rs.5 lakh and many expensive items as dowry since the marriage. They alleged that Dhiraj’s family had refused to take Priti after the wedding because they could not meet their dowry demands.

Her family also claimed that after all efforts for a patch up failed, they approached a local voluntary organisation and also informed the women’s commission.

Reena Kumar, member of the local women’s commission, subsequently tried to convince Dhiraj’s family but nothing came out of it.

Meanwhile, it has been 48 hours since Priti has been sitting outside her husband’s house. She said she is determined and will not leave the fight for her right.

 

Courtesy: Indiatoday