New Delhi: The family of the bride whose wedding was stopped by District Magistrate Shailesh Kumar Yadav Monday night over alleged violation of the 10 pm night curfew in Tripura has accused the officer of “harassment” and “ill behaviour”.
Speaking to ThePrint, the bride’s mother, Sabita Deb alleged that Yadav, the West Tripura District Magistrate, pushed people around and assaulted them.
“The local police have been kind and helpful but we are really mentally torn after the DM’s misbehaviour,” she said. “He pushed around and hit people. We will never forget the torture we have been subjected to. Never had we imagined that one of the happiest days of our life will take this bizarre turn.”
On being asked why the wedding was extended beyond 10 pm, she said, “You know how weddings are, the muhurat was for 11:30 pm, so we were all there.”
She added that they were all detained for two hours that night by the DM and were released after the local police intervened in their support. The wedding rituals were completed later.
She also said that the bride and the groom have been traumatised by the events of the night. “All of us are mentally devastated. Not in a position to talk to,” she said.
ThePrint contacted Yadav through repeated calls and Whatsapp messages but received no response until the publishing of this report.
The DM, however, apologised for his behaviour Tuesday, after facing a major backlash.
“I apologise if any individual or group is pained by last night’s action,” Yadav told reporters in Tripura. “But what was done last night was only for the benefit and well being of people. My aim was not to pain or humiliate anyone.”
Speaking to ThePrint, Tripura Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar dismissed rumours floating on social media that the DM had been suspended. “One inquiry committee with two secretary-level officers has been formed to probe the matter,” he said.
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‘Had followed guidelines’
The bride’s brother, Subhrajit Deb, has in a Facebook post lashed out at Yadav over him disrupting the wedding and disrespecting everyone, including the bride and the groom.
Deb has shared pictures of documents where permission was granted to carry out the ceremony. He also claimed that in line with Covid-19 guidelines, only 25-30 had gathered for the ceremony.
“As per Hindu religious timings, the auspicious time for marriage (logno) was 11:30 pm. Which we already mentioned in our documents submitted at the DM office with the wedding card attached,” Subhrajit said.
He also stated that Yadav’s office granted them four vehicle passes so that they could move around smoothly. Subhrajit also hit out at Yadav saying, “Sir, we educated fools request you not to fool simple people like us and harass at midnight even after issuance of orders from (your) office.”
“I am a postgraduate resident of the largest designated Covid centre in Kolkata. I have seen Covid deaths closely and am definitely aware of the protocols,” the brother wrote. “I never violated them and even strictly advised all my relatives for the same.”
While the bride’s family lives in Tripura, the groom is based in Bengaluru and had come to Agartala for the wedding. The bride’s father, Swapan Kumar Deb, is a doctor in Agartala.
‘Boorish & uncultured’ behaviour
Video clips of the DM’s behaviour went viral on social media, where he is seen shoving out the groom, tearing the permission letter for the wedding that he had signed and thrashing the priest, in a bid to stop the wedding ceremony at Manikya Court, a marriage hall in Agartala.
The wedding was held amid a 10 pm curfew, which had come into force on 22 April in the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) areas.
An infuriated Yadav can be heard telling those gathered at the wedding that they were in direct violation of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC and would be prosecuted. Over 30 were detained and released later.
Once the video became viral, five Tripura BJP MLAs — Asish Kumar Saha, Diba Chandra Hrangkhawl, Ram Prasad Paul, Sushanta Chowdhury and Asish Das— Tuesday wrote to Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar demanding strict action against Shailesh Kumar Yadav, calling his behaviour “boorish and uncultured”.
Tripura royal scion and chief of TIPRA Motha, Pradyot Manikya Deb Barma, whose party recently won the tribal council elections here is also the owner of the Manikya Court where the incident took place.
“I have many bigger issues to discuss right now than marriage party issues ! Let the law take its own course …..my only advice is not to drag me into a political fight,” he wrote on Facebook Tuesday.
He also called for a complete investigation of the incident and said that he will close down the marriage hall as per the “verbal directions of Honourable DM Sahib”.
ThePrint also contacted the TIPRA chief through calls and messages and also on Twitter but didn’t get a response.
Yadav had raided another wedding hall Monday night and can be heard saying in the videos — “Manikya Court and Golap Bagan are banned and they will not be able to operate for the next one year”.
Tripura has 793 active Covid-19 cases and reported two deaths Tuesday.
(Edited by Arun Prashanth)
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